Zambia have moved to the brink of the COSAFA Under-20 Women’s Championship title with a comprehensive 6-0 victory over Botswana at the UJ Soweto Campus on Friday.
The Zambians will need just a point to be sure of the trophy when they clash with Mozambique on Saturday at 12h00 CAT (10h00 GMT) after another comprehensive win in a tournament where they have now scored 18 goals and conceded none in their three games to date.
Hosts South Africa kept their hopes alive with a 3-0 victory over Lesotho in the other game on Friday.
They must now hope Mozambique beat Zambia and defeat Lesotho in their final game on Sunday, and that South Africa beat Botswana in their last game.
That would leave all three teams on nine points in the table and create a mini-league to decide the winner based on the results of matches between them.
If Mozambique win on Saturday but fail to beat Lesotho, Zambia will be champions by virtue of their head-to-head record against South Africa, who they beat 3-0.
Zambia showcased their attacking prowess and defensive solidity, further cementing their position as tournament favourites.
They took immediate control of the match, with Jacqueline Nambeya opening the scoring in the first minute to set the tone for their dominance.
Zambia doubled their lead in the 22nd minute through a free-kick that was expertly converted by Saliya Mwanza. Botswana’s resilience was tested throughout, with the young Zebras’ goalkeeper Gasego Mokola making several crucial saves to limit the damage.
In the 41st minute, Zambia’s captain Mary Mbewe struck again, capitalising on their fluid attacking play to extend the lead to 3-0 by halftime.
The second half began with substitutions for both sides as Botswana kicked off. Initially, the game appeared more balanced, with Zambia narrowly missing a chance to extend their lead.
However, their relentless pressure paid off shortly afterwards, as an own goal by Botswana’s Ivy Mankgatau just past the hour-mark made it 4-0.
Botswana worked hard defensively but struggled to contain Zambia’s sharp attack.
The Young Copper Queens struck again in the 76th minute through Edith Phiri, extending the lead to 5-0, before Ruth Muwowo added the finishing touch, sealing an emphatic 6-0 victory.
South Africa eased past Lesotho as they gained an early lead via Adrielle Mibe’s header as she moved to the top of the scorers charts alongside Muwowo. Both have four goals.
Nobahle Mdelwa added a second after the break and shortly after that Gugu Mabitsela netted a third as the home side cruised to the win.
Teams earn three points for a win and one for a draw, with the side that collects the most points after their four games the victor.
Entrance for fans to all matches will be FREE of charge, with tickets available at the stadium on match day. They distributed on a first come, first served basis. You can view all of the fixtures here.
If you cannot get to the stadium, you can watch all matches streamed LIVE on FIFA+.
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Botswana 0 Zambia 6 (Nambeye 1’, Mwanza 35’, Mbewe 41’, Mankgatau 65’og, Phiri 78′, Muwowo 83′)
South Africa 3 (Mibe 7’, Mdelwa 52’, Mabitsela 56’) Lesotho 0
SATURDAY’S FIXTURES
Zambia vs Mozambique (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Lesotho vs Botswana (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Zambia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 9 |
| South Africa | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Mozambique | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 3 |
| Botswana | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 | -7 | 0 |
| Lesotho | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | -12 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 6
Goals scored: 30
Biggest victory: Lesotho 0 Zambia 9 (November 19)
Most goals in a game: 9 – Lesotho 0 Zambia 9 (November 19)
GOALSCORERS
4 goals – Adrienne Mibe (South Africa), Ruth Muwowo (Zambia)
3 – Saliya Mwanza (Zambia)
2 – Bwalya Chileshe (Zambia), Mary Mbewe (Zambia), Lubasi Pumelo (Zambia), Joana Mossueie (Mozambique), Jessy Zulu (Zambia)
1 – Gugu Mabitsela (South Africa), Armenia Machava (Mozambique), Thato Mafolo (South Africa), Nobahle Mdelwa (South Africa), Yaone Modise (Botswana), Jacqueline Nambeye (Zambia), Edith Phiri (Zambia), Dimpho Sedirwa (Botswana)
Own goal – Ivy Mankgatau (Botswana)
La Zambie y est presque
Le Championnat U20 de la COSAFA s’est poursuivi vendredi avec la victoire de la Zambie qui semble avoir fait le plus difficile jusqu’ici et le rachat de l’Afrique du Sud. Le premier nommé s’est imposé 6-0 contre le Botswana alors que les Sud-africaines ont pris le meilleur sur le Lesotho (3-0).
La Zambie s’est offert une nouvelle promenade. Cette fois face au Botswana. Les Copper Queens se sont imposées 6-0 contre le Botswana et sont plus que jamais en tête de cette ligue simple. Elles comptent toujours trois points d’avance sur la Zambie et devraient sauf catastrophe s’emparer du Graal dimanche. Au UJ Stadium vendredi, une attaque éclaire a rapidement mis la Zambie sur la voie avec ce but de Nambeya dès la première minute de jeu.
Saliya et Mbewe ont frappé juste avant la pause et le match était alors presque déjà plié. Déjà acculé, les Botswanaises encaisseront même un but contre leur camp après que la malheureuse Mankatau propulsait le cuir dans ses propres filets. Le match était loin d’être plié pour autant puisque Phiri et l’inévitable Muwowo frappaient à leur tour en fin de rencontre. Avec désormais neuf unités au compteur et une différence de but largement favorable, les Zambiennes peuvent voir venir.
Pour sa part, l’Afrique du Sud s’est brillamment rattrapée en dominant le Lesotho 3-0. On se souvient que la nation arc-en-ciel avait subi le courroux de la Zambie mercredi. Cette fois, il y avait en face, un adversaire à sa portée. Mibe a ainsi profité pour ouvrir le score à la 7e minute et juste avant l’heure de jeu, Mdelwa et Mabitsela ont mis k.o les Lesothanes en ajoutant chacun un but à quatre minutes d’intervalles.
Et on commence justement à voir un peu plus clair en ce qui concerne le podium mais surtout le vainqueur de cette édition 2024. Et ce samedi, le suspense devrait perdre un peu de son intensité avec 4e et avant-dernière journée du championnat féminin. A midi, la Zambie sera aux prises avec le Mozambique alors qu’à 15h, le Lesotho affrontera le Botswana.
Le Lesotho et le Botswana n’ont plus rien à espérer de cette compétition. Les deux formations doivent surtout éviter de finir lanterne rouge du tournoi et pour cela, une victoire est impérative dans un camp comme dans l’autre. Les deux pays ont engrangé deux revers en deux sorties et n’ont pas su élever leur niveau de jeu pour répondre aux exigences du tournoi où pouvoir suivre le rythme dans cette compétition où les joutes s’enchainent presque quasi quotidiennement.
Zâmbia goleia e está a uma vitória do título!
Já lá vão três vitórias consecutivas da vice-campeã Zâmbia! Hoje, a seleção zambiana voltou a mostrar a sua força e impôs mais uma goleada, desta vez frente a Botswana, por 6-0, num jogo referente à terceira ronda da fase regular da segunda edição da Taça COSAFA de Futebol Feminino Sub-20. Dois golos de Saliya Mwanza (35′ e 78′) e de Ruth Muwowo (65′ e 82′), juntamente com os golos de Nambeya (2′) e Mbewe (41′), garantiram o confortável triunfo da Zâmbia.
Este resultado coloca a equipa de Charles Haalubono, técnico da Zâmbia, no topo da tabela classificativa com nove pontos e um saldo positivo de 15 golos marcados sem sofrer nenhum. Em segundo lugar está a África do Sul com seis pontos, que hoje venceu a já eliminada equipa do Lesotho por 3-0. Moçambique encontra-se em terceiro lugar com três pontos, seguido por Botswana e Lesotho sem qualquer ponto, ocupando a quarta e quinta posições, respectivamente.
Apesar disso, tanto a África do Sul como Moçambique podem alcançar nove pontos, os mesmos que a Zâmbia, o que exigiria o recurso a cálculos para determinar o campeão.
No entanto, o cenário mais provável é que a Zâmbia consiga pelo menos um ponto contra Moçambique amanhã, o que a tornará campeã.
A Zâmbia não teve dificuldades em superar este adversário, graças ao talento das suas jogadoras, refletindo o notável trabalho que o país tem realizado para elevar o futebol feminino ao mais alto nível.
A Zâmbia volta a entrar em campo amanhã para concluir a fase de grupos, enfrentando a seleção de Moçambique pelas 12:00 horas, enquanto Lesotho defrontará Botswana às 15:00 horas.
De acordo com as regras da competição, as cinco seleções foram distribuídas num único grupo, com a África do Sul como país anfitrião e cabeça de série. Cada vitória vale três pontos e cada empate um ponto. A equipa que liderar a tabela no final de todos os jogos será coroada campeã de 2024.
A Tanzania, nação convidada, venceu a primeira edição do campeonato em 2019 ao derrotar a Zâmbia por 2-1 na final.
Anotar que a entrada para assistir ao Campeonato Feminino Sub-20 da COSAFA, que será realizado no Campus Soweto da Universidade de Joanesburgo, será gratuita.
