Hosts South Africa booked their place in the semi-finals of the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women’s Championship 2025 after a 2-0 victory over Angola in a top-of-the-table Group A clash at Seshego Stadium on Saturday, helped by a favourable result in the pool’s other match between Malawi and Lesotho.
South Africa secure their last-4 place as Group A winners with six points from their two fixtures to date.
Malawi and Angola both have three points after the second round of matches in the pool, but as they play each other in their final fixture on Tuesday, only one can match South Africa’s tally.
And whoever that may be, South Africa would be ahead of them on the head-to-head rule.
Both can still play to win and aim to be the best runner-up across the three pools and book a semi-final spot that way.
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis made wholesale changes from the opening match against Malawi, with only two players retained in the starting line-up, including first-goal scorer Gabriela Salgado.
South Africa made a bright start and took the lead inside the opening 15 minutes when Isabella Ludwig provided the pass for Salgado, the JVW FC attacker finishing calmly to break the deadlock.
Angola had a chance to respond soon after as captain Arminda Lopes went close, but she was unable to hit the target.
South Africa goalkeeper Dineo Magagula was then called into action from an Angola corner, making an important save as the hosts carried a slender lead into the interval.
With Angola showing strong resistance in defence, clear chances were limited for long spells. South Africa almost doubled the advantage in the closing 20 minutes when Sibingakonke Mzobe met an opening in the box but fired over the crossbar.
The second goal arrived with 11 minutes remaining after changes from the bench injected fresh momentum. The record seven-time COSAFA Women’s Championship winners earned a corner and Nonhlanhla Mthandi reacted quickest to score the rebound from the set-piece to seal the win.
In the later kick-off, Malawi thrashed Lesotho 8-1 to move into second place in the pool with three points. Ireen Khumalo scored twice, while Deborah Henry netted the first hat-trick of the tournament.
Vanessa Chikupila added another as the Scorchers built a commanding lead before the break. Vutimbiko Mkandawawire and Olivia Phikani were also on target in the second half.
Makhotso Moalosi struck Lesotho’s consolation, her second goal of the tournament, but they remain bottom of the group with no points after two matches.
Action continues on Sunday with Matchday 2 in Group B at Seshego Stadium, where Botswana face Eswatini at 12h00 CAT (10h00 GMT), followed by Zambia against Zimbabwe at 15h00 (13h00 GMT).
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