Zimbabwe sealed their place in the semifinals of the 2019 COSAFA Women’s Championship with a comprehensive 7-0 drubbing of Eswatini at the Wolfson Stadium on Monday.
The Mighty Warriors finish top of Group C and will meet hosts South Africa in Last 4 in what will be a titanic clash between two powerful sides in the region.
Emmalulate Msipa scored four goals for Zimbabwe as they cruised to the win, while Mavis Chirandu bagged a brace and Rudo Neshamba scored the other. Eswatini had won their two previous games, but were no match for their more illustrious opponents.
The other match in Group C saw Angola defeat Mozambique 3-1 in a battle of the Portuguese-speaking nations. Laurinda Maonte scored twice for the Angolans to go with a goal for Arminda Lopes, this after Violeta David had put Mozambique in front.
Hosts South Africa sealed top spot in Group A as they beat Madagascar 3-0 to claim a full haul of nine points. On a day when midfielder Mamello Makhabane celebrated her 100th cap, strikes from Ode Fulutudilu and Refoloe Jane, and an own goal from Madagascar defender Lalaina Razafimanantsoa, sealed the win for Banyana Banyana.
Malawi kept alive their hopes of a semifinal place as the best runner-up when they thumped Comoros Islands 13-0. Linda Kasenda scored eight goals for the She-Flames to shoot to joint top of the scorers charts, with Asimenye Simwaka (two), Sabinah Thom and Zainabu Kapanda also on target for Malawi.
They must now wait for the outcome of Group B, which will conclude on Tuesday.
Zambia and Botswana, who both have six points, meet at the Wolfson Stadium at 15h30 (13h30 GMT) and a draw would see both teams advance – Botswana as the best-placed runner-up.
However, a win for Zambia or Botswana would see the Malawians go through based on their superior goal-difference.
The other match in the pool sees Namibia take on Mauritius at the Gelvandale Stadium at the same time.
Meanwhile, South Africa and Zimbabwe claimed comfortable victories in Group A at the inaugural 2019 COSAFA Women’s Under-20 Championship that is also being stages in Nelson Mandela Bay.
South Africa had already sealed their place in the semifinals prior to their final match, but are now joined by Zimbabwe.
Both will have to wait for Tuesday’s matches to find out who they will play, but it will be one of East African guest nation Tanzania or Zambia, who meet to decide top spot in Group B. South Africa claimed a 3-1 success over Mozambique on Monday despite falling behind to an early goal from Leia Lunguile.
The hosts were soon level when Oratile Mokwena netted, and then hit the front as Shakeerah Jacobs scored her third goal of the competition in the second half. The points were made safe late on as Zethembiso Vilakazi added a third goal.
Dinah Banda bagged a brace as Zimbabwe beat Namibia 4-0 to claim another convincing win.
They were given the lead by Talent Bizeki and also added a fourth through Praynence Zvawanda.
Group B will conclude on Tuesday when Tanzania and Zambia clash at the Wolfson Stadium (12h00 local time; 10h00 GMT), though a draw would be enough to see the East African guest nation finish top and avoid hosts South Africa in the next stage.
The dead rubber game in Group B sees Botswana and Eswatini meet at the same time at the Gelvandale Stadium.
Matches at both venues have FREE entry to fans, who can collect tickets from:
WOLFSON STADIUM
Spar – Daku
Spar – New Brighton
Spar – Zonke (Motherwell)
U Save – Opposite Wolfson Stadium
GELVANDALE STADIUM
Spar – Gelvandale
Spar – Espen Heights
Spar – Algoa
Spar – Algoa Foods