Angola (in white) taking on Mozambique
Photo Credit: COSAFA Media
Angola boys’ team is through to the semifinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) COSAFA Qualifiers whereas other Group A members Malawi and Lesotho crashed out of the race on Sunday afternoon in South Africa.
Baptiste’s 73rd minute goal was all the Angolans, whose football is on the up at all levels, needed to book their last-four spot with seven points, three points ahead of Mozambique and four ahead of Lesotho.
Lesotho bowed out with heads high after handing Malawi a 3-2 defeat at the University of Johannesburg Soweto Stadium in South Africa.
Thuto Khetsi put Lesotho ahead barely six minutes into the game before Rethabile Nqoko added the second goal 21 minutes later. The Malawians did not go down without a fight; they responded through James Lumbe’s effort a minute to half-time.
In the second half, Enos Chatama’s boys thought they had snatched a point when Yusuf Nantunga converted from the penalty spot after a foul. However, Lesotho’s Nqoko had a final say of the Group B game as he registered his second goal of the afternoon.
The Angolans have joined in the semifinals Zambia and South Africa who excelled in groups B and C respectively.
There was also plenty of action in the girls section of the 10-day competition as Mozambique’s girls beat Lesotho 2-0 in a Group A meeting with Anna Armando and Victoria Tennysen scoring to take their tally to nine points.
Mozambique might be joined in the last-four phase by Zambia who humiliated Zimbabwe 7-2 in a come-from-behind response for Group C.
Chedza Khumalo put the Zimbabweans in front with a seventh-minute goal which only provoked Carol Kanyemba’s girls. Mercy Chipasula, Grace Phiri and Masela Sekeseka scored a double each to complete the job while Tatenda Gambiza scored Zimbabwe’s second goal.
Zambia lead the pool on six points, three points in front of Botswana who humbled Mauritius 6-0 courtesy of goals from Shirley Tokonyane, Hope Lesotlo, Amogelang Sebotho, Keotshepile Kasetse (double) and an own goal from Parrisa Merven.
Action continues on Monday with the semifinalists likely to be known in the girls section.
Two overall teams in the boys’ category will book a ticket to the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast next year.
The girls are using the regional qualifiers to prepare for the AFCON finals for their age-group scheduled for Morocco next year.
MONDAY’S FIXTURES FOR BOYS
Group B – UJ Soweto Stadium: Namibia vs Zimbabwe (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Group B – UJ AW Muller Stadium: Zambia vs Eswatini (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Group C – UJ Soweto Stadium: Botswana vs Comoros (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
Group C – UJ AW Muller Stadium: South Africa vs Mauritius (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
SUNDAY’S FIXTURES FOR GIRLS
Group C – UJ Soweto Stadium: Botswana vs Mauritius (KO 09h00; 07h00 GMT)
Group C – AW Muller Stadium: Zambia vs Zimbabwe (KO 11h00; 09h00 GMT)
Group A – UJ B Soweto Stadium: Comoros vs Eswatini (KO 11h00; 09h00 GMT)
Group A – UJ B Soweto Stadium: Mozambique vs Lesotho (KO 14h00; 12h00 GMT)
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