EN, FR, PR: African champions Senegal get win on opening day in Durban
African champions Senegal got their HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship Group A campaign off to a positive start after they beat defending champions Mozambique 5-4 in a thriller at Durban’s South Beach Arena on Sunday.
The clash was a repeat of the Beach Soccer AFCON final from last year and once again it was the Senegalese who came out on top.
But they were given a mighty scare by Mozambique, who clawed their way back from 5-2 down to set up a tense final few minutes.
Amar Samb, Seydina Diagne, Papa Ndour and Mamour Diagne (two) were on target for the west Africans, who are warming up for the 2022 AFCON that will be staged in Mozambique next month.
Last year’s top-scorer Nelson was on target for Mambas, along with Figo, Dez and Arroz.
The other match in Group A saw Seychelles claim a 3-2 success against hosts South Africa in another intriguing clash.
Nduduzo Phakathi but the home side ahead but Elvin Estico, Glenny Gamatis and Hansel Coeur de Lion were all on target for the islanders. Abongile Ngamlana also netted for South Africa but it was not enough.
Egypt were also given a scare by Mauritius in the opening game in Group B but eventually triumphed 6-3 having at one stage been held at 3-3.
Mohammed Rajbally, Jean Roseario and Jean Nabab all scored for Mauritius, but Egypt found the back of the net through Hassan Hussein, Moustafa Abdelmoneim, Haitham Mahsoub, Mohamed Aly Hassan, Moustafa Shabaan and Elhusseini Aly.
Finally Uganda got their campaign off to the perfect start with a hard-fought 4-2 victory in their east African derby against Tanzania.
Ambrose Kigozi scored a brace of goals for the Sand Cranes, while Joshua Lubwama and Isma Kawawulo were also on target.
Goodluck Gama and Jaruph Juma both netted for Tanzania, who were beaten finalists in last year’s competition.
The teams will do it all again on Monday with the second round of games in the two pools, and you can check all the fixtures here.
And the best news for those that want to take in the action live is that tickets are FREE!
These can be collected on a first come, first served basis either the day before the matches are scheduled to be played, or on match day. The outlets are Durban Parks and Beach office (blue building) and Wedge Beach (opposite the Edward Hotel).
If you cannot be on the beach, there are many other ways to follow the action.
Matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport channel 205, please check your TV Guide through the competition. You can stream these games via now.dstv.com.
They will also be streamed on SABC Sport Channel 124. We will also stream all matches to a watching world on COSAFA.TV and FIFA+.
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SUNDAY’S RESULTS
Group A
Mozambique 4 (Nelson, Figo, Dez, Arroz) Senegal 5 (Samb, S. Diagne, M. Diagne 2, Ndour)
Seychelles 3 (Estico, Gamatis, Coeur de Lion) South Africa 2 (Phakathi, Ngamlana)
Group B
Egypt 6 (Hussein, Abdelmoneim, Mahsoub, Aly Hassan, Shabaan, Aly) Mauritius 3 (Rajbally, Roseario, Nabab)
Tanzania 2 (Gama, Juma) Uganda 4 (Lubwama, Kigozi 2, Kawawulo)
MONDAY’S FIXTURES
Group A
Mozambique vs Seychelles (KO 10h30; 08h30 GMT)
Senegal vs South Africa (KO 12h30; 10h30 GMT)
Group B
Uganda vs Mauritius (KO 14h30; 12h30 GMT)
Tanzania vs Egypt (KO 16h30; 14h30 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | W+ | WP | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Senegal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Seychelles | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Mozambique | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 0 |
| South Africa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | W+ | WP | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Egypt | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Uganda | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Tanzania | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 0 |
| Mauritius | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 0 |
Key: P = Played; W = Won; W+ = Won in extra-time; WP = Won on penalties; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against; PTS = Points
Points Allocation:
Three points for a win
Two points for a win in extra-time
One point for a win via penalty kicks
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 4
Goals scored: 29
Biggest victory: Egypt 6 Mauritius 3 (Group B, September 25)
Most goals in a game: 9 – Mozambique 4 Senegal 5 (Group A, September 25); Egypt 6 Mauritius 3 (Group B, September 25)
GOALSCORERS
2 goals – Mamour Diagne (Senegal), Ambrose Kigozi (Uganda)
1 – Moustafa Abdelmoneim (Egypt), Elhusseini Aly (Egypt), Mohamed Aly Hassan (Egypt), Arroz (Mozambique), Hansel Coeur de Lion (Seychelles), Dez (Mozambique), Seydina Diagne (Senegal), Elvin Estico (Seychelles), Figo (Mozambique), Goodluck Gama (Tanzania), Glenny Gamatis (Seychelles), Hassan Hussein (Egypt), Jaruph Juma (Tanzania), Isma Kawawulo (Uganda), Joshua Lubwama (Uganda), Haitham Mahsoub (Egypt), Jean Nabab (Mauritius), Papa Ndour (Senegal), Nelson (Mozambique), Abongile Ngamlana (South Africa), Nduduzo Phakathi (South Africa), Mohammed Rajbally (Mauritius), Jean Roseario (Mauritius), Amar Samb (Senegal), Moustafa Shabaan (Egypt)
La surprise Seychelloise, la ballade des Pharaons
Le Hollywoodbets COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship a démarré sur les chapeaux de roues dimanche sur le front de mer de Durban. Cette première journée a été caractérisée par un nombre élevé de buts, de belles actions sur le sable et surtout une première surprise : la victoire des Seychelles face à l’Afrique du Sud.
L’Egypte, l’un des favoris de la compétition a longtemps peiné avant de célébrer son succès inaugural. Les Pharaons, invités à la compétition, ont dû faire face à une équipe de Maurice accrocheur en diable. Les deux formations se sont rendues coup pour coup mais à la fin, les Egyptiens, ayant plus de vécu dans cette discipline, ont eu le dernier mot en s’imposant 6-3
La grosse surprise de la journée est à mettre au crédit des Seychellois. Totalement décomplexés, les Pirates se sont lancés à l’assaut de l’Afrique du Sud. Ils ont eu beaucoup de mal mais s’en sont tout de même sortis avec une courte mais précieuse victoire (3-2).
L’autre surprise est la défaite inaugurale du Mozambique. Les Mambas affrontaient le Sénégal, champion d’Afrique en titre. Et autant dire que ce fut une explication musclée et remplie de suspens. Au bout des trois actes, ce sont les Sénégalais qui se sont imposés sur le fil. La Tanzanie et l’Ouganda ont aussi livré un beau duel. Mais les Ougandais ont finalement trouvé la solution pour l’emporter face aux Tanzaniens.
Ce lundi, quatre rencontres sont de nouveau au programme et l’écrémage commencera à avoir lieu. En fait, ceux qui ne sont pas parvenus à gagner hier seront tout simplement éliminés aujourd’hui s’ils ne parviennent pas à rafler les trois points de la victoire. C’est notamment le cas pour Maurice qui affronte l’Ouganda. Les Grues, eux, pourront commencer à entrevoir les demi-finales en cas de nouveau succès.
L’Afrique du Sud devra également gagner ce lundi mais pas certain que le Sénégal, son adversaire, ne l’entende de la même oreille. La rencontre entre le Mozambique et les Seychelles promet aussi de faire des étincelles avec notamment le champion en titre a bord de l’élimination. La Tanzanie et l’Egypte se livreront à un duel intéressant avec un léger avantage pour les Pharaons.
Campeão tropeça em South Beach Arena e Egipto goleia
A Selecção Moçambicana de Futebol de Praia, campeão em título, consentiu hoje, uma derrota em pleno Beach Soccer Arena, diante do Senegal, actual campeão africano, por 4-5, em jogo a contar para a primeira jornada do Grupo A, da III edição da Taça COSAFA, a decorrer na cidade sul-africana de Durban. Ainda no mesmo grupo, os anfitriões, África do Sul viram-se impedidos de conquistar os três pontos, depois das Seychelles terem vencido por tangenciais 3-2.
Por seu turno, a selecção do Egipto protagonizou o resultado expressivo desta ronda ao impor uma goelada às Maurícias por 6-3, enquanto que Uganda venceu a sua congénere de Tanzania por 4-2, em desafio a contar para o Grupo B.
Entretanto, os campeões do COSAFA da edição passada não conseguiram contrariar o favoritismo dos “Leões de Teranga”, alcunha da formação senegalesa, que conseguiu chegar a uma vantagem confortável vencendo por quatro bolas sem resposta no final dos 24 períodos.
O melhor artilheiro dos “Guerreiros da Praia”, nome de guerra da equipa moçambicana foi o primeiro a inaugurar o marcador, sendo que Figo, Ramossete e Arroz deixaram a sua assinatura, num desafio em que o guarda-redes Gonçalves Bila (Monstro) destacou-se com defesas assinaláveis.
Moçambique volta a entrar em cena esta segunda-feira, 26 de Setembro, devendo defrontar as Ilhas Seychelles (10.30 horas), enquanto Senegal medirá forças com a sua congénere da África do Sul, às 12.30 horas.
Refira-se que este foi o adversário com quem Moçambique disputou e perdeu (4-1) na final do Campeonato Africano das Nações (CAN) organizado pelos senegaleses no ano passado.
Segundo o Regulamento da prova apuram-se para as meias-finais as primeiras duas classificadas de cada grupo e os segundos melhores classificados dos dois grupos. A final está agendada para o dia 30 do mês corrente.