COSAFA U-20 Youth Championship 2017:
Thursday, 14th December (Semifinals):
- South Africa vs Egypt – Nkana Stadium (2 p.m)
- Uganda vs Lesotho – Nkana Stadium (5 p.m)
Tuesday Results:
Group C:
- Namibia 0-0 Zimbabwe
- Lesotho 0-0 Angola
Uganda Hippos will face Lesotho in the semifinals of the COSAFA U-20 Championship at the Nkana Stadium on Thursday.
The development follows the conclusion of group stage matches where Lesotho finished top of Group C after a goal-less draw with Angola at the Nkana Stadium in Kitwe on Tuesday
The other group game between Namibia and Zimbabwe also ended goal-less at Arthur Davies Stadium.
This implied that Lesotho and Zimbabwe ended on five points apiece.
Lesotho had registered more goals scored (for) and this sealed their place in the semifinals
Best Runners Up Slot:
The results also confirmed that Egypt finished as the best runners-up for their six points in Group B and they will take on South Africa again in the other semifinal.
The South Africans had defeated Egypt on Monday to top the pool.
Both semifinals will be played at the Nkana Stadium, as will the third-place play-off and final on Saturday.
Return of Shaban Mohammad
Uganda will welcome back the services of inspirational team leader (captain) and the tournament top scorer Muhammad Shaban (with three goals) who had got marching orders as they settled for a 2 all draw with Swaziland on Friday.
The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Football Club forward missed the team’s last group match against Malawi which ended one-all.
Steven Mukwala scored late to neutralize the physical Malawians as Uganda topped Group A to book the semifinal berth.
Lesotho’s Raboama Koloti who has scored two goals will the main cause of concern for the Ugandan back line.
Head coach of the Ugandan side, Mathias Lule believes they will re-organize their house ahead of the semi final clash.
“We are determined to reach the final and take the championship. We have been planning for each match ahead of us with caution” Lule stated.
Defending Champions and tournament hosts Zambia are already eliminated.
Final Standings of Groups:
Group A
P W D L GF GA GD Points
Uganda 3 1 2 0 5 3 +2 5
Malawi 3 1 2 0 4 3 +1 5
Zambia 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
Swaziland 3 0 1 2 4 7 -3 1
Group B
P W D L GF GA GD Points
South Africa 3 3 0 0 5 1 +4 9
Egypt 3 2 0 1 4 2 +2 6
Mozambique 3 1 0 2 2 2 0 3
Mauritius 3 0 0 3 0 6 -6 0
Group C
P W D L GF GA GD Points
Lesotho 3 1 2 0 2 1 +1 5
Zimbabwe 3 1 2 0 1 0 +1 5
Namibia 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
Angola 3 0 1 2 0 2 -2 1
Tournament Statistics:
- Matches Played: 18
- Goals scored: 31
- Biggest victory: Zambia 0 Uganda 2 (Group A, December 6); South Africa 2 Mauritius 0 (Group B, December 7); Egypt 2 Mauritius 0 (Group B, December 9); Zambia 2 Swaziland 0 (Group A, December 11); Mauritius 0 Mozambique 2 (Group B, December 11)
- Most goals in a game: 5 – Swaziland 2 Malawi 3 (Group A, December 6)
Goal Scorers:
- 3 goals – Muhammad Shaban (Uganda)
- 2 – Abdelrahman Amr (Egypt), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Order Mamba (Swaziland), Luvuyo Mkatshana (South Africa), Francisco Mwepu (Zambia), Patrick Phiri (Malawi), Raboama Koloti (Lesotho), Muzi Tsabedze (Swaziland)
- 1 – Hussein Abdelkader (Egypt), Peter Banda (Malawi), Kamo-Kamo Cumbane (Mozambique), Romario Hawiseb (Namibia), Domingos Junior (Mozambique), Mohamed Karem (Egypt), Francisco Madinga (Malawi), Stephen Mukwala (Uganda), Enzo Mungendje (Namibia), King Nasama (Zimbabwe), Nkosingiphile Ngcobo (South Africa), Allan Okello (Uganda)
