University of the Western Cape (UWC) defeated Herentals Queens 2-1 on Monday as both Group A teams progressed to the semifinals of the CAF Women’s Champions League l Cosafa Qualifiers in Malawi.
UWC finished on top of the group on head-to-head whereas Herentals Queens descended to second place.
The result effectively eliminated FC Ongos who had earlier handed Green Buffaloes a 2-1 defeat in an early kick-off at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre.
In the final game of the day, Noxolo Cesane’s 46th-minute goal and Bongeka Gamede strike 14 minutes later for UWC sealed the win. Alice Moyo scored a consolation for the Zimbabweans.
The first half had ended goalless before the proceedings came to life in the second half.
UWC started the second half in fashion, going ahead barely after a minute when Noxolo Malinga sneaked in a shot into the net after catching Herentals Queens’ defence sleeping in a swift pass-and- support move.
Some 14 minutes later, Gamede added the second goal for the South Africans after she found space at the near-post to place the ball into the net after a corner-kick from the left had caused mayhem in the box.
Moyo pulled one back for the Zimbabweans in spectacular fashion, turning 360 degrees with her left leg then opening her body to dispatch a terrific strike into the roof of keeper Dlamini’s net.
In the first encounter of the day, FC Ongos’ two first-half goals handed fancied Green Buffaloes a second consecutive defeat thereby denying the Zambians an automatic semifinals’ slot.
It was a matter of the Namibian side, which Zambian Agnus Elemu coaches, exiting the qualifiers on a high after back-to-back 3-0 and 3-1 losses to UWC and Herentals Queens.
Playing before a few fans at the 6,000-seater stadium, midfielder Beverly Uueziua put the Namibians ahead with a 24th-minute right-foot stunner from the left, before Twelikondjele Amukoto added the second goal in the 39th minute.
Amukondo made the most of a long bouncing ball, which tinkering Buffaloes defenders failed to tame, to sneak a loose ball past exposed goalkeeper Aisha Mbwana.
The first half ended in favour of the Namibians and there was no doubt that a response was expected from the 2022 champions from Zambia.
That response came in the 63rd minute when substitute Vanessa Chikupila, who is a Malawian, weaved her way on the right then cut inside to net the consolation for the Zambians.
Coach Carol Kanyemba demanded more goals from her charges but Ongos held their nerves to the end of the match to leave the group at the mercy of the second match of the afternoon between UWC and Herentals Queens.
FC Ongos finished bottom of the group with three points at par with Green Buffaloes, who had started the qualifiers with a 1-0 win over UWC only for Herentals Queens to peg them back with a 1-0 defeat.
Ahead of the first match, coach Kanyemba had dropped striker Chikupila, midfielders Maweta Chilenga, Lubasi Pumula and defender Esther Banda in preference of Agness Phiri, Diana Banda, Mokgabo Thanda and Pauline Zulu.
In the opposite camp, Elemu elected to start with midfielders Elmarie Fredericks and Ivone Kooper at the expense of Julia Blou and Judith Rutjindo. Such changes proved a masterstroke for the Namibians.
The next game saw leaders Herentals Queens facing UWC at the same venue while hoping to secure the top two slots from the pool.
Group assignments conclude on Tuesday when Young Buffaloes face Group B leaders UD Lichinga in a noon kick-off whereas Gaborone United face Ascent Academy.
Lichinga (four points), Ascent (three points), United (two points) and Buffaloes (one point) have a chance to qualify for the semifinals.
Top two teams from the group will join the best two from Group A in the semifinals.
The overall winner of the 10-day tournament will book a place at the CAF Women’s Champions League’s continental finals, joining Mamelodi Sundowns who did not participate in the qualifiers as they had already secured their finals’ slot by virtue of being African champions.
Entrance for fans to all matches in Blantyre will be FREE of charge. You can view all of the fixtures here.
If you cannot get to the stadium, you can watch all matches streamed LIVE on FIFA+.
MONDAY’S RESULTS
Group A
FC Ongos 2 (Uueziua 24′, Amukoto 39′) Green Buffaloes 1 (Chikupila 63′)
University of the Western Cape 2 (Cesane 46’, Gamede 60’) Herentals Queens 1 (Moyo 81’)
TUESDAY’S FIXTURES
Group B
Young Buffaloes vs UD de Lichinga (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Gaborone United vs Ascent Academy (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Univ. of the Western Cape (South Africa) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Herentals Queens (Zimbabwe) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| FC Ongos (Namibia) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 3 |
| Green Buffaloes (Zambia) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
* UWC lead Herentals Queens, and FC Ongos lead Green Buffaloes on head-to-head
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| UD de Lichinga (Mozambique) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Ascent Academy (Malawi) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Gaborone United (Botswana) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Young Buffaloes (Eswatini) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 10
Goals scored: 21
Biggest victory: University of the Western Cape 3 FC Ongos 0 (Group A, August 17)
Most goals in a game: 4 – Herentals Queens 3 FC Ongos 1 (Group A, August 15)
GOALSCORERS
2 goals – Bongeka Gamede (UWC), Maudy Mafuruse (Herentals Queens), Sandiswa Ngcamphalala (Young Buffaloes)
1 – Twelikondjele Amukoto (FC Ongos), Noxolo Cesane (UWC), Melody Chikore (Herentals Queens), Vanessa Chikupila (Green Buffaloes), Alephar Chimbeta (Ascent Academy), Faith Chinzimu (Ascent Academy), Sibulele Holweni (UWC), Ndapewa Kateta (FC Ongos), Fikile Magama (UWC), Celia Miguel (UD de Lichinga), Yaone Modise (Gaborone United), Alice Moyo (Herentals Queens), Natasha Nanyangwe (Green Buffaloes), Egness Tumbare (Herentals Queens), Beverly Uueziua (FC Ongos)
Déjà deux billets distribués
Les équipes de Herentals Queens, du Zimbabwe et de l’Université de Western Cape (UWC), d’Afrique du Sud, sont qualifiées pour les demi-finales de la quatrième édition des qualifications régionales pour la Ligue des Champions Féminine de la CAF | Qualification COSAFA 2024, qui se déroule dans la capitale du Malawi, Blantyre, depuis le 15 de ce mois et doit se terminer le 22 du même mois. Ce match fait partie de la troisième et dernière journée de la phase de groupes (B).
En effet, les représentantes sud-africaines ont battu l’équipe de Herentals Queens par la plus petite des marges, 2-1, la milieu de terrain Noxolo Cesane ouvrant le score à la 46e minute, après une action bien menée dans la surface de réparation. Sa coéquipière Bongeka Gamede a ensuite doublé l’avantage en inscrivant le 2-0 à la 60e minute, profitant d’un ballon repoussé par un montant.
Herentals Queens, malgré sa détermination, a réduit le score à 2-1 grâce à Alice Moyo à la 82e minute. Les universitaires se qualifient pour la phase éliminatoire en tant que premiers du groupe B avec six points, à égalité avec Herentals Queens, deuxièmes. Rappelons que, selon le règlement, les deux premiers de chaque groupe se qualifient pour les demi-finales.
Ainsi, l’UWC affrontera le deuxième du groupe A, tandis que Herentals Queens attend le vainqueur du même groupe.
Par ailleurs, dans l’autre match du groupe, le FC Ongos de Namibie a fait sensation. Les Namibiennes, qui n’avaient pas gagné leurs deux premiers matchs, ont battu les championnes 2022, les Green Buffaloes de Zambie, par 2-1, empêchant ainsi leur qualification pour les demi-finales.
Beverly Uueziua a ouvert le score pour les Namibiennes à la 24e minute, avant que Twelikondjele Amukoto n’ajoute un deuxième but après 15 minutes de jeu. La remplaçante Vanessa Chikupila a marqué le but de l’honneur pour les Zambiennes, mais Ongos a maintenu son calme jusqu’à la fin du match.
Avec tout encore à jouer dans le groupe A, demain sera le jour où les équipes de ce groupe connaîtront leur sort. Le Young Buffaloes affrontera le UD Lichinga à 12h00, tandis que Gaborone United Ladies, du Botswana, jouera contre Ascent Academy à 15h00.
Seule l’équipe vainqueure parmi les huit clubs se joindra aux tenantes du titre, les Mamelodi Sundowns, lors de la phase continentale à la fin de cette année. Les sud-africaines, exemptées de cette phase, ont remporté le titre tant convoité à deux reprises (2021 et 2023).
University Cape e Herentals Queens nas meias-finais!
As equipas do Herentals Queens, do Zimbabwe e do University of Western Cape (UWC), da África do Sul, estão apuradas para às meias-finais da quarta edição das eliminatórias regionais de acesso a Liga dos Campeões Feminina da CAF | Qualificação COSAFA 2024, que vem decorrendo na capital do Malawi, Blantyre, desde o passado dia 15 deste mês devendo terminar no dia 22 do mesmo mês. Estapartida é referente a terceira e última jornada da fase de grupos (B).
Com efeito, as representantes sul-africanas, levaram de vencida, hoje, a turmaHerentals Queens pela margem mínima de 2-1, com a meio-campista Noxolo Cesane, a inaugurar o marcador a passagem do minuto 46, depois de uma jogada envolventeno interior da zona de rigor. A sua colega de equipa, Bongeka Gamede, por sua vez,ampliou a vantagem fazendo o 2-0, aos 60 minutos, após aproveitar uma sobra do esférico, que tocou num dos ferros laterais.
Herentals Queens que se mostrou inconformada, pressionou e reduziu o placard para 2-1, por intermédio de Alice Moyo quando estavam jogados 82 minutos.
As universitárias seguem para fase eliminar na qualidade de primeiros classificados da série B com seis pontos, os mesmos que o Herentals Queens, segundo classificado, lembrando que, de acordo com o regulamento, os dois primeiros melhoresclassificados de cada grupo avançam para as meias-finais.
Deste modo, o UWC irá cruzar com o segundo melhor classificado do Grupo A, sendo que o Herentals Queens aguarda pelo líder do mesmo pelotão.
Entretanto, na outra partida, a contar para o mesmo grupo, a turma do FC Ongos da Namíbia foi um autêntico desmancha-prazeres. É que, as namibianas que nãovenceram os dois anteriores jogos derrotaram as campeãs de 2022, Green Buffaloes(Zâmbia), por 2-1, negando a possibilidade destas qualificarem-se paras as “meias”.,
Beverly Uueziua colocou os Namibianos à frente com um golo impressionante aos 24 minutos, antes de Twelikondjele Amukoto adicionar o segundo golo após 15 minutos. A suplente Vanessa Chikupila marcou o golo de consolação para os Zambianos, mas o Ongos manteve a calma até ao final do jogo.
Com tudo em aberto no Grupo A, amanhã será o dia em que os integrantes destegrupo conhecerão os seus destinos. No entanto, o Young Buffaloes enfrentará o UD Lichinga às 12h00, enquanto o Gaborone United Ladies, do Botsuana, jogará contra o Ascent Academy às 15h00.
Apenas a equipa vencedora entre os oito clubes se juntará ao Mamelodi Sundowns, detentor do título, na fase continental no final deste ano. As sul-africanas, isentasdesta fase, arrebataram o tão desejado título em duas ocasiões (2021 e 2023).
