COSAFA U-20 Championship
Final
- South Africa 2-1 Lesotho
Third Place
- Egypt 2-1 Uganda
South Africa won their sixth regional title after a 2-1 victory over Lesotho in the final of the 2017 COSAFA U-20 Championships at the Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe, Zambia on Saturday.
Lyle Foster and Kamogelo Sambo were on target for South Africa.
Rethabile Mokokoane replied with an excellent long-range effort for Lesotho but turned out to be a consolation.
South Africa were head inside five minutes when Lyle Foster scored his third goal of the tournament with a neat finish into the bottom corner after Luvuyo Mkatshana had been tackled in the box.
Amajita made it 2-0 just before halftime when Kamogelo Sambo bundled the ball home after Keanu Cupido’s close-range effort had been blocked by substitute Lesotho goalkeeper Silase Kopano.
Lesotho almost found a way back into the game late in the first half when Bonang Mohapi’s free-kick struck a post and bounced away to safety.
Lesotho pulled a goal back in fine fashion when Rethabile Mokokoane, who had only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes, shot from 40-yards, the ball nestling in the top corner as South Africa goalkeeper Sanele Tshabalala appeared to react late to the could not keep the ball out.
Lesotho might have equalized soon afterwards when Mokoteli Mohapi found himself with an empty net to aim at, but he side-footed his shot wide.
Meanwhile, North Africans Egypt collected the bronze medal with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Uganda in the earlier match to determine third place.
The North Africans were ahead on 19 minutes as Roshdi Ashraf swept a hard and low shot past diving Uganda Hippos’ goalkeeper Eric Kibowa at the near post.
Uganda’s captain Muhammad Shaban headed home a minute before the break, his fourth of the competition and a goal they deserved for the pressure they had applied.
Ashraf Roshdi put the young Pharaohs ahead in the 19th minute for his third goal of the tourney.
Uganda’s captain Muhammad ‘Jaggarson’ Shaban made amends with a well headed goal a minute to the half time break as the two countries returned to the dressing rooms tied at one goal apiece
This was Shaban’s fourth goal at the championship that elevated his aloft the rest of the other scorers.
Fourteen minutes into the second half, Roshdi once again scored past Eric Kibowa in Uganda’s goal posts.
Kibowa who marked his first start at the tournament was again beaten with an acrobatic effort by Abdelrahman Amr in the 90th minute.
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and Kibuli S.S left footed gem Allan Okello had a superb chance to equalize again for the Ugandans, but he put his diving header wide of the goal.
The win was secured for Egypt though deep into injury-time when Abdelrahman Amr volleyed home a superb long-range effort for his third goal of the competition.
Individual Awards
The Player of the Tournament award was given to South Africa’s Luvuyo Mkatshana, Muhammed Shaban took home the Golden Boot.
Monaheng Ramalefane was named the Goalkeeper of the Tournament prize, while Lesotho picked up the Fair Play Award.
Uganda’s delegation returns on Monday.
Group Standings
Group A P W D L GF GA GD Pts
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 Pts
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 Pts
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: 22
Goals scored: 39
Biggest victory: Egypt 3 Uganda 1 (Third-Place Play-Off, December 16)
Most goals in a game: 5 – Swaziland 2 Malawi 3 (Group A, December 6)
Goal Scorers
4 – Muhammad Shaban (Uganda)
3 – Abdelrahman Amr (Egypt), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Luvuyo Mkatshana (South Africa),
2 – Roshdi Ashraf (Egypt), Order Mamba (Swaziland), 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), Rethabile Mokokoane (Lesotho), Stephen Mukwala (Uganda), Enzo Mungendje (Namibia), King Nasama (Zimbabwe), Nkosingiphile Ngcobo (South Africa), Allan Okello (Uganda), Kamogelo Sambo (South Africa)
Individual & Team Accolades:
- Player of the Tournament: Luvuyo Mkatshana (South Africa)
- Golden Boot (Top Scorer): Muhammed Shaban (Uganda) – 4 Goals
- Best Goalkeeper: Monaheng Ramalefane (South Africa)
- Fair Play Award: Lesotho
