Zambia and Mozambique confirmed their places in the semifinals of the 2023 Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women’s Championship after wins over Comoros and Angola respectively in the deciding Group B matches in Gauteng on Tuesday.
Defending champions Zambia were forced to kick into second gear by Comoros, who came into their decider already eliminated as they held them to 1-1 draw at the break.
Fridah Kabwe, who netted a hattrick, opened the scoring for Zambia in the opening 20 minutes, but that goal was cancelled by Mohamed Rouika four minutes before half time. When they returned after the break, Kabwe completed her brace two minutes before the hour mark, which was then followed by a quick goal from captain Lushomo Mwemba a minute later.
With 16 minutes left on the clock, Zesco United star Kabwe scored her third goal, but Zambia were not done as Sarah Jere converted a penalty four minutes to the final whistle at the University of Johannesburg in Soweto.
The result means coach Florence Nkatya’s changers finish top of the group, tied on seven points with Mozambique, who defeated Angola in the Lusophone derby in the other decider played at Dobsonville stadium.
Mozambique needed a late penalty from Amelia Banze to win and finish as best runners up at their coach’s former ground.
The outcome eliminated any chances of teams in Group A to qualify for the knockout phase as they could only reach six points.
Malawi had already qualified in first place in the pool with a match to spare so neither South Africa nor Eswatini, who came into their decider in the later kick-off could progress.
However, last year’s finalists Banyana Banyana finished strongly as they thrashed Eswatini 3-0 in that encounter.
Thubelishle Shamase completed her hat-trick, a first half brace and the other goal in the second stanza, to increase her personal goal tally to five and help South Africa finish second in their group with six points.
Malawi sent Madagascar packing with a 3-1 victory in Pimville. Vanessa Chikupila, Leticia Chinyamula and Asimenye Simwaka scored for Malawi, while Helisoa Kanto scored the consolation for Madagascar.
The Scorchers finished number one in the group with a perfect record while Madagascar exited without registering a single point.
One team from Group C will complete the semi-final line-up and that team will be the winner of the top-of-the-table clash between Zimbabwe and Botswana, who will meet on Wednesday in Dobsonville.
The Mighty Warriors are at the summit with six points, while the Mares are behind them with four points.
Namibia and Lesotho will play for pride in the dead rubber to be staged at the University of Johannesburg Soweto campus. These matches kick off at 15h30.
