Photo Credit: Cosafa - Council of Southern Africa Football Associations
South Africa’s boys and girls’ teams led by example after winning their respective opening matches at the COSAFA Qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Johannesburg.
The girls of South Africa taught their Malawi counterparts a lesson with a comprehensive 4-2 beating courtesy of an inspired hat-trick from Leonay Kock in a Group B game at UJ Stadium.
Kock opened the scoring in the 23rd minute before adding two goals in the 72nd and 88th minutes to join Katlego Malebana on the scorers’ list. Asimenye Mwanyongo and Fatima Lali scored for the Malawians in the second half. In the second game, Zimbabwe saw off Mauritius 2-1 courtesy of Antonio Ana Njere and Chiedza Khumalo's first-half strikes whereas the islanders netted through Marie Claire.
Not wishing to be outshone, the South Africa's boys team started its campaign with an easy 3-0 win over Botswana.
The hosts scored through Selwyn Stevens' sixth-minute penalty followed by Emile Witbooi's strikes six minutes later. Kahomelo Maraletse added the third goal in the 49th minute. Another game saw islanders Comoros and Mauritius sharing the spoils after a goalless draw.
The goals galore returned in the other match. Zimbabwe showed no mercy on Eswatini after trouncing them 5-1. In-form Tadiwa Chakuchichi scored once, El Shaddai Sadoma bagged a treble and Valentine Macheka completed the rout. Menzie Dama chalked Eswatini's consolation goal.
Two 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.
Results
Girls U-17
South Africa 4-2 Malawi
Zimbabwe 2-1 Mauritius
Boys U-17
South Africa 3-0 Botswana
Comoros 0-0 Mauritius
Zimbabwe 5-1 Eswatini
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