EN, FR, PR: Finalists revealed at Region 5 Games U20 football competition
South Africa and Malawi will contest the final of the men’s Under-20 football tournament at the Region 5 Games in Windhoek, Namibia, while the South Africans clash with Zambia in the women’s decider.
Both those games will be played on Sunday at the UNAM Stadium, with the women’s final to kick-off at 11h00 CAT (09h00 GMT) and the men’s at 14h00 CAT (12h00).
South Africa are the defending champions in the regional COSAFA men’s Under-20 competition, while Zambia hold the crown in the women’s tournament.
Angola will take on Zambia in the men’s third-place play-off at 15h00 CAT (13h00 GMT) on Saturday, after Botswana meet hosts Namibia in the women’s bronze medal match at 12h00 CAT (10h00 GMT).
Both those matches are at the UNAM Stadium.
All Region 5 Games fixtures will be streamed LIVE on COSAFA’s YouTube channel. Matches will also be streamed LIVE around the world on FIFA+, except in the countries of the competing teams.
As per the rights agreement with Region 5 Games organisers, matches will be available to view in full on FIFA+ in those countries 30 minutes after the final whistle.
South Africa sealed their place in the men’s final with a 2-0 victory over Angola.
They took the lead in the first period through 16-year-old wonderkid Emile Witbooi just before the half-hour mark as he side-footed into the back of the net after being teed-up perfectly 15 yards from goal.
The second from Steven Mendes was arguably the goal of the tournament to date. He spotted the Angola goalkeeper off his line and struck a shot from 45 yards that sailed into the net.
It was a brilliant piece of vision and technique to get the insurance goal for his side.
Malawi stunned Zambia in the second semifinal as they claimed a 2-1 victory over the Young Chipolopolo.
Malawi took the lead inside three minutes through Mwisho Mhango, who netted a third goal of the campaign as he picked up the ball 40 yards from goal went on a strong run and finished from the edge of the box for a fine solo effort.
Zambia levelled five minutes before halftime when a free-kick into the box was headed into the goal by James Sibeene.
But Malawi hit the front again when Mhango lifted a free-kick over the wall and the ball nestled in the bottom left corner, another brilliant strike from one of the stars of the competition.
He now has four goals in Windhoek and leads the Golden Boot race, with double the number of strikes of anybody else.
Defending champions Zambia powered into the final of the women’s competition with a 5-0 victory over Botswana in their semifinal at the Hage Geingob Stadium.
It was another comprehensive victory for the Zambians, who have now scored 24 goals in four games and have yet to conceded in the tournament.
Bwalya Chileshe netted a brace of goals and Ruth Mukoma was also on the scoresheet as those two moved to six goals each in the tournament, a share of the lead in the Golden Boot race.
Saliya Mwanza and Ruth Muwowo were also on target as Zambia underlined their status as tournament favourites.
Lindelwa Mabuza’s long-range strike after five minutes set South Africa on their way to a 1-0 victory over hosts Namibia in the second women’s semi-final.
She rifled an effort on target from 35-yards that the Namibia keeper seemed to have covered, yet it snuck into the corner of the net.
BOYS COMPETITION
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Semifinals
South Africa 2 (Witbooi 25’, Mendes 68’) Angola 0
Malawi 2 (Mhango 3’, 70’) Zambia 1 (Sibeene 40’)
SATURDAY’S FIXTURE
Third-Place Play-Off
UNAM Stadium
Angola vs Zambia (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
SUNDAY’S FIXTURE
Final
UNAM Stadium
South Africa vs Malawi (KO 14h00; 12h00 GMT)
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 14
Goals scored: 39
Biggest victory: Zambia 3 Eswatini 0 (Group A, July 7); South Africa 3 Botswana 0 (Group A, July 7)
Most goals in a game: 6 – South Africa 3 Zambia 3 (Group B, July 5)
GOALSCORERS
4 – Mwisho Mhango (Malawi),
2 – Steven Mendes (South Africa), Rashid Naobeb (Namibia), Gabriel Phiri (Zambia), Emile Witbooi (South Africa)
1 – Manuel Bernado (Angola), Neo Bohloko (South Africa), Kelvin Chipelu (Zambia), Danilson Cundula (Angola), Tadiwa Chakuchichi (Zimbabwe), Nkotami Chimwemwe (Zambia), Clifford Chisale (Malawi), Billy Daka (Zambia), Takudzwa Darkeni (Zimbabwe), Phiwayinkhosi Dube (Eswatini), Irvin Evans (Botswana), Marcelo Faustino (Angola), Suveree Kauzuu (Namibia), Thandanani Mhlongo (South Africa), Lameck Mithi (Malawi), Bokamoso Mokokosi (South Africa), Njabulo Mzimela (South Africa), Bongani Ndhlovu (Zambia), Molwantwa Ngube (Botswana), Luis Panda (Angola), James Sibeene (Zambia), Omphemetse Sekgoto (South Africa), Mapalo Simute (Zambia), Selwyn Stevens (South Africa), Tumiso Tshotlego (Botswana)
Own goal – Garie Chibika (Zimbabwe), Mcheni Kavendji (Namibia)
GIRLS COMPETITION
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Semifinals
Zambia 5 (Chileshe 3’, 35’, Mukoma 43’, Mwanza 48’, Muwowo 90+1’) Botswana 0
Namibia 0 South Africa 1 (Mabuza 5’)
SATURDAY’S FIXTURE
Third-Place Play-Off
UNAM Stadium
Botswana vs Namibia (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
SUNDAY’S FIXTURE
Final
UNAM Stadium
Zambia vs South Africa (KO 11h00; 09h00 GMT)
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 14
Goals scored: 58
Biggest victory: Zambia 8 Angola 0 (Group B, July 7); Zambia 8 Eswatini 0 (Group B, July 9)
Most goals in a game: 9 – Malawi 3 Zimbabwe 6 (Group A, July 8)
GOALSCORERS
6 goals – Bwalya Chileshe (Zambia), Ruth Mukoma (Zambia)
3 – Hope Lesotlo (Botswana), Lindelwa Mabuza (South Africa), Saliya Mwanza (Zambia), Maria Viera (Angola)
2 – Plaxina Blandason (Zimbabwe), Alicia Chinyoka (Zimbabwe), Lweendo Hanongo (Zambia), Katleho Malebana (South Africa), Victoria Mbali (Zambia), Victoria Mkwala (Malawi), Ontheedite Tokwane (Namibia)
1 – Renalda Angula (Namibia), Glória Araújo (Angola), Eunice Bwalya (Zambia), Sandra Correia (Angola), Sethabile Dlamini (Eswatini), Nozenzo Gama (Eswatini), Merian Genti (Zimbabwe), Elizandra Jordão (Angola), Khwezi Khoza (South Africa), Priviledge Mashanda (Zimbabwe), Zizipho Mhlahlo (South Africa), Busisiwe Mokoena (South Africa), Ntokozo Mpofu (Zimbabwe), Ruth Muwowo (Zambia), Siphesihle Mvila (South Africa), Lombanya Mwewa (Zambia), Grace Phiri (Zambia), Amogolang Sebotho (Botswana), Faluna Umali (Malawi), Zangose Zulu (Zambia)
Les finalistes révélés
Les demi-finales des tournois COSAFA Region 5 Youth et COSAFA U20 Women, qui se déroulent actuellement en Namibie, ont offert des moments de football intense et captivant. Le vendredi 11 juillet, au stade UNAM, les équipes masculines ont fait forte impression. L’Afrique du Sud a dominé l’Angola avec un score net de 2-0, grâce à des buts de Witbooi à la 25e minute et Mendes à la 68e minute.
De son côté, le Malawi a également brillé face à la Zambie, s’imposant 2-1. Mhango a ouvert le score dès la 2e minute et a ensuite marqué à nouveau à la 70e, tandis que la Zambie a réduit l’écart grâce à un but de Daka à la 39e minute. Les matchs pour la troisième place s’annoncent palpitants. L’Angola affrontera la Zambie au Hage Geingob Stadium, le samedi 12 juillet à 15h. Ce sera une occasion pour les deux équipes de démontrer leur force et de sortir la tête haute du tournoi.
Pour la finale, prévue le dimanche 13 juillet à 14h, l’Afrique du Sud rencontrera le Malawi au Hage Geingob Stadium. Une rencontre très attendue qui promet d’être riche en émotions et en talents.
En parallèle, les demi-finales du COSAFA U20 Women se sont également déroulées le même jour au Hage Geingob Stadium. La Zambie a écrasé le Botswana avec un score impressionnant de 5-0, avec des buts signés Chileshe (3’ et 35’), Mukoma (43’), Mwanza (48’) et Muwowo (90+1’). Dans l’autre demi-finale, l’Afrique du Sud a remporté une victoire étroite contre la Namibie, avec un seul but décisif marqué par Mabuza à la 5e minute.
Le match pour la troisième place opposera le Botswana à la Namibie, également le 12 juillet à 15h au stade UNAM. La finale du tournoi féminin aura lieu le dimanche 13 juillet à 11h, où la Zambie se mesurera à l’Afrique du Sud.
Ces tournois offrent une vitrine incroyable pour le football junior et féminin en Afrique, mettant en avant les futurs talents du continent.
África do Sul e Malawi decidem título masculino, Zâmbia e África do Sul na final feminina
Os Campeonatos Sub-20 masculinos e femininos da COSAFA, integrados nos Jogos da Região 5 e disputados em Windhoek, Namíbia, conheceram hoje os seus finalistas, após emocionantes meias-finais realizadas no Hage Geingob Stadium.
No torneio masculino, o destaque vai para o feito do Malawi, que surpreendeu ao eliminar a campeã em título, Zâmbia, por 2-1, num jogo intenso em que Mhango bisou (2’ e 70’), enquanto Daka ainda reduziu para os zambianos aos 39 minutos. Madalitso Safuli, do Malawi, foi eleito o melhor em campo. Na outra meia-final, a África do Sul impôs-se com autoridade perante Angola, vencendo por 2-0, com golos de Witbooi (30’) e Mendes (68’), e viu Omphemetse Sekgoto receber o prémio de melhor jogador da partida.
Assim, a grande final masculina será disputada no domingo, 12 de Julho, às 14h00, entre África do Sul e Malawi, enquanto angolanos e zambianos lutarão pelo terceiro lugar no sábado, às 15h00.
No sector feminino, a Zâmbia confirmou o seu favoritismo ao golear Botswana por expressivos 5-0, em partida em que Chileshe (4’ e 35’), Mukoma (43’), Mwanza (48’) e Muwowo (90+1’) assinaram os tentos da equipa. Eunice Bwalya foi distinguida como a melhor jogadora do encontro. Já a África do Sul carimbou o passaporte para a final ao bater a equipa anfitriã, Namíbia, por 1-0, graças a um golo madrugador de Mabuza aos 5 minutos, numa exibição que valeu a Tebogo Mlangeni a distinção em campo.
A final feminina está marcada para domingo, 12 de Julho, às 11h00, com Zâmbia e África do Sul a reeditar um clássico da região. Botswana e Namíbia disputarão o terceiro lugar no sábado, às 15h00, no UNAM Stadium.
O torneio, que já contabiliza 14 jogos e 58 golos apontados, tem registado resultados expressivos, com destaque para as goleadas da Zâmbia frente a Angola (8-0) e Eswatini (8-0) na fase de grupos, além do jogo mais prolífico entre Malawi e Zimbabwe (3-6), que terminou com nove golos.
Com finais agendadas para o emblemático Hage Geingob Stadium, Windhoek prepara-se para coroar os novos campeões sub-20 da COSAFA, num evento que tem sido marcado por talento, emoção e muitos golos.