ENG, FRE, POR: History-maker Letsoalo puts South Africa into COSAFA Cup semifinals
STATEMENT FROM COSAFA ON LOCALISED LOOTING IN SOUTH AFRICA The Eastern Cape Provincial Joint Operational Command (ProvJoints), which is tasked with disaster management, is monitoring the situation on the ground. There are currently no incidents like those experienced in Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal in the last few days. As such, there is nothing to be concerned
STATEMENT FROM COSAFA ON LOCALISED LOOTING IN SOUTH AFRICA
The Eastern Cape Provincial Joint Operational Command (ProvJoints), which is tasked with disaster management, is monitoring the situation on the ground.
There are currently no incidents like those experienced in Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal in the last few days. As such, there is nothing to be concerned about in Nelson Mandela Bay at the moment.
In particular, they have confirmed that there is no threat to the tournament.
DAY 7 WRAP / DAY 8 PREVIEW
Victor Lestoalo became just the second player in South African football history to score an international hat-trick as his treble in a 4-0 win over Lesotho sealed top spot in Group A at the 2021 COSAFA Cup in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The home side are now assured of a place in Friday’s semifinals, but who they will be up against, as well as who will be the second qualifier from their pool, will go down to the wire in Wednesday’s final round of games.
Letsoalo is the second Bafana Bafana player after Benni McCarthy against Namibia in 1998 to net a hat-trick as he opened the scoring inside five minutes to set the tone for the game.
Sphelele Mkhulise added a second midway through the first half, before Letsoalo bagged his brace just before the break.
His historic moment was completed 12 minutes into the second half after he was teed-up by defender Thabani Dube.
Zambia kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the semifinals as they defeated Botswana 2-1, with Justin Shonga bagging a brace for them to take his tally for the tournament to three. Thatayaone Kgamanyane netted for The Zebras.
Zambia must now beat South Africa on Wednesday to stand a chance of progressing to the semifinals, as well as hoping that Botswana defeat Eswatini.
That would leave all three sides on six points and create a mini-league which would come down to goal-difference and potentially goals scored. Or perhaps even the drawing of lots!
However, Eswatini need just a point and having not played since Saturday should be the fresher team.
Namibia remain the top side in Group B after they played to a 1-1 draw with Malawi, who have now been eliminated.
Elmo Kambindu scored his third goal of the competition to put the Brave Warriors ahead, before Micium Mhone equalised for The Flames, though it was not enough.
Senegal took a big step towards the semifinals, and eliminated Zimbabwe at the same time, as they claimed a 2-1 victory.
Mohamed Ba and Abdoul Ndoye scored for the west African guest nation, while Qadar Amini netted for Zimbabwe.
Namibia head the pool with seven points from three games, followed by Senegal (six from three), Mozambique (four from three), Malawi (two from three) and Zimbabwe (two from four).
Senegal will need a win over Malawi on Wednesday to be sure of their semifinal place, though even a defeat will be enough if Mozambique fail to beat Namibia.
The top two teams in each of the groups advance to the semifinals, which will be played on Friday.
You can follow all the games live on www.cosafa.tv.
TUESDAY’S RESULTS
Group B
Malawi 1 (Mhone 73’) Namibia 1 (Kambindu 53’)
Senegal 2 (Ndoye 44’, Ba 88’) Zimbabwe 1 (Amini 3’)
Group A
Zambia 2 (Shonga 21’, 83’) Botswana 1 (Kgamanyane 62′)
South Africa 4 (Letsoalo 5’, 44’, 57’, Mkhulise 20’) Lesotho 0
WEDNESDAY’S FIXTURES
Group B
Senegal vs Malawi (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Mozambique vs Namibia (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Group A
Eswatini vs Botswana (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
South Africa vs Zambia (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
Group standings are determined by:
1) Head-to-head record between the teams.
2) Goal-difference in matches between the teams.
3) Goals scored in matches between the teams.
4) Goal-difference in all group matches.
5) Fair play points system.
6) Drawing of lots.
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| South Africa (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| Eswatini | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Botswana | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Zambia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| Lesotho | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | -9 | 3 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Namibia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| Senegal | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| Mozambique | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Malawi | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 2 |
| Zimbabwe | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 2 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 16
Goals scored: 38
Biggest victory: Botswana 4 Lesotho 0 (Group A, July 10)
Most goals in a game: 4 – Eswatini 3 Lesotho 1 (Group A, July 6); Malawi 2 Zimbabwe 2 (Group B, July 9); Botswana 4 Lesotho 0 (Group A, July 10); South Africa 4 Lesotho 0 (Group A, July 13)
GOALSCORERS
3 goals – Elmo Kambindu (Namibia), Victor Letsoalo (South Africa), Tumisang Orebonye (Botswana), Justin Shonga (Zambia)
2 – Thatayaone Kgamanyane (Botswana), Motebang Sera (Lesotho)
1 – Qadar Amini (Zimbabwe), Mohamed Ba (Senegal), Felix Badenhorst (Eswatini), Lamane Diene (Senegal), Pape Djitte (Senegal), Sandile Gamedze (Eswatini), Victor Junior (Mozambique), Tumelo Khutlang (Lesotho), Schumacher Kuwali (Malawi), Kagiso Malinga (South Africa), Fanelo Mamba (Eswatini), Micium Mhone (Malawi), Khetokhule Mkhontfo (Eswatini), Sphelele Mkhulise (South Africa), Patrick Musaka (Zimbabwe), Khuda Muyaba (Malawi), Abdoul Ndoye (Senegal), Marcel Papama (Namibia), Blessing Sarupinda (Zimbabwe), Thabang Sibanyoni (South Africa), Francisco Simbine (Mozambique)
Own goal – Qadar Amini (Zimbabwe)
L’Afrique du Sud et la Namibie dans carré d’As
L’Afrique du Sud en démonstration mardi. Les Bafana Bafana ont enchainé un troisième succès de rang en laminant le Lesotho 4-0. La Zambie s’est bien repris contre le Botswana en s’imposant 2-1.
Le pays hôte a validé son billet pour la demi-finale en s’imposant contre son voisin, le Lesotho. Avec désormais neuf points, l’Afrique du Sud peut au pire finir deuxième du groupe A. Mardi, le triplé de Sepana Letsoalo a totalement déstabilisé les Crocodiles du Lesotho. Sphelele Mkhulise a également participé au festival de buts. Dans l’autre rencontre, la Zambie s’est reposée sur Justin Shonga pour neutraliser le Botswana. En face, la réalisation de Thatayaone Kgamanyane n’aura pas suffi.
Au niveau du classement, l’Afrique du Sud mène le rythme donc avec neuf points. L’Eswatini est second avec six unités au compteur. Le Botswana, la Zambie et le Lesotho suivent avec trois points chacun.
Avec désormais sept points au compteur, la Namibie est assuré de disputer la demi-finale. Mardi, les Brave Warriors ont été tenu en échec par le Malawi.
En match d’ouverture, la Namibie a une nouvelle fois pu compter sur Elmo kambindu pour faire la différence. Le jeune attaquant a ouvert le score à la 53e minute. Il inscrivait au passage, son troisième but dans le tournoi. Mais les Namibiens craqueront dans le dernier quart en se faisant rejoindre par des Malawites déterminés. Le but de Miciam Mhone rétablira la parité.
Mais ce fut insuffisant pour permettre aux Flames d’accéder au prochain tour. Ils sont donc éliminés après trois sorties infructueuses. Avec sept unités, la Namibie est assurée de finir en deuxième position au pire. Mais le plus important est déjà acquis.
Les Flames ne brillent plus
Le Sénégal aura besoin d’un point également pour sortir du groupe. Les Lions de la Téranga ont pris le meilleur sur le Zimbabwe après des buts de Mouhamed Ba et d’Abdou Ndoye. Qadr Amini avait pourtant ouvert le score dès la 3e minute de jeu. Le Zimbabwe, quintuple vainqueur de la compétition, termine dernier du groupe B avec deux défaites et deux nuls au compteur.
Ce mercredi, la plupart des formations qui étaient sur le pont hier seront de sortie une nouvelle fois aujourd’hui. Parmi, l’on retrouve le Mozambique qui affrontera la Namibie à midi au Wolfson Stadium. Dans le même temps, mais au Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, le Sénégal peut valider son ticket pour le prochain tour en cas de succès sur le Malawi.
Après trois sorties, les Flames ne brillent plus. Les Malawites n’ont pris que deux points en trois sorties et sont déjà éliminés à ce stade de la compétition. Ils tenteront de sauver l’honneur face aux Lions de la Téranga. Après son partage de points de la veille, la Namibie a assuré sa place pour le dernier carré. Il s’agira de faire tourner l’effectif ce mercredi face au Mozambique qui ne possède qu’une infime chance de passer au prochain tour.
Dans le groupe A, l’Eswatini sera aux prises avec le Botswana à 15h au Wolfson Stadium. Dans l’autre match, l’Afrique du Sud affrontera la Zambie à 15h au NMB Stadium.
Senegal vence, baralha as contas e África do Sul garante as “meias”
A Selecção da Namíbia adiou a passagem para as meias-finais do torneio sénior masculino de futebol da COSAFA, ao ceder hoje, um empate (1-1) diante do Malawi, no desfecho da terceira jornada do Grupo “B”. Os namibianos que só precisavam de uma vitória para garantir a passagem directa a fase seguinte, não conseguiram conservar a vantagem após o golo apontado pelo avançado Elmo Kambindu (53´), permitindo que o meio-campista a serviço do Blue Eagles, Miciam Mhone marcasse o golo da igualdade a passagem do minuto 73.
Já a África do Sul assegurou a sua presença nas meias-finais, ao levar de vencida a já afastada formação do Lesotho por 4-0, numa vitória em o melhor jogador em campo, Senapa Letsoalo (5′, 44´ e 57´) fez um “hat-trick” e o seu colega Sphelele Mkhulise (20´) apontou o último golo, na terceira jornada a contar para o Grupo “A”. Ainda neste grupo, os campeões em título (Zâmbia) alcançaram a sua primeira vitória diante do Botswana (2-1) deixando em aberto a luta pelo segundo melhor classificado.
Nas meias-finais, a África do Sul deverá jogar, no dia 16 de Julho, com o “segundo classificado do Grupo “B”, que só será conhecido amanhã, nos desafios que envolverá as selecções da Namíbia-Moçambique e Senegal-Malawi, respectivamente pelas, 12.00 horas, no Isaac Wolfson e Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, enquanto o vencedor do Grupo “B” jogará no mesmo dia o segundo melhor classificado do Grupo “A”.
Por sua vez, o Senegal deu uma autêntica reviravolta despachando por 2-1, a nação mais titulada desta competição, Zimbabwe (2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2017, 2018), esta que se despede sem honra e nem glória!
Ainda assim, os “Brave Warriors” (alcunha da equipa namibiana) lideram a tabela classificativa com sete pontos, seguindo as selecções do Senegal (6), Moçambique (4), e por fim, os já eliminados Malawi e Zimbabwe, ambos com dois (2) pontos.
Com este cenário, a Namíbia precisa apenas de um empate ou vitória, enquanto que Moçambique e Senegal irão brigar por um lugar nas “meias”, bastando para tal vencerem o último jogo e aguardar pelas contas finais, após a conclusão da jornada.
De acordo com o regulamento da prova, apenas os primeiros classificados de cada grupo apuram-se às meias-finais e o segundo melhor classificado de todos os grupos. Este cenário permite com que cada selecção realize três jogos até um máximo de cinco, o que proporcionará uma preparação importante para as selecções envolvidas nas eliminatórias para o Campeonato do Mundo de 2022, no Qatar, com início previsto para Setembro próximo.
A fase de grupos terminará no dia 14 de Julho, com os jogos das meias-finais a serem disputados dois dias depois. A final da competição e o terceiro lugar do “play-off” serão realizados no dia 18 de Julho.
Das 19 edições até então disputadas, o Zimbabwe é a nação mais bem-sucedida na história da COSAFA tendo conquistado o seu sexto título em 2018,tal como já haviamos acima referenciado. Enquanto que a Namíbia foi vencedora do Torneio da COSAFA em 2015, foi terceiro em 2016 e na edição de 2017 terminou na quarta posição. Também disputou a final em 1999, mas perderam para Angola. Em 2019, tal como Moçambique, a Namíbia foi eliminada na primeira fase.