Muhammed Shaban (left) vies for the ball with Lesotho's Monaheng Ramalefane Credit: ©Chris Ricco/BackpagePix

COSAFA U-20 Championship (Semifinal Results):

  • South Africa 1-0  Egypt
  • Uganda 0 (5) – 0 (6) Lesotho
[/media-credit] Geofrey Wasswa heads the ball away from Raboama Koloti of Lesotho during the match Credit: ©Chris Ricco/BackpagePix

Lesotho will face South Africa in the finals of the 2017 COSAFA U-20 Championship on Saturday.

The development was confirmed on Thursday evening after the two semi final matches played at the Arthur Davies stadium in Kitwe.

A 10 man South African side won 1-0 over Egypt with Luvuyo Mkatshana scoring the lone strike 4 minutes to the half time break.

Lehlogonolo Matlou was sent off after a second bookable offence

Uganda U-20 team bowed out in painful style, losing 6-5 in post match penalties to Lesotho in a rain laden fixture.

This followed a goal-less draw in normal time. Frank ‘Zaga’ Tumwesigye and team captain Muhammed Shaban got close to scoring for Uganda.

Lesotho’s Raboama Koloti shot wildly at the near post after collecting a long pass from Bonang Mohapi in the second stanza of the game, a chance that the South Africans came close.

In the tense shoot out, Geofrey Wasswa, Shafiq Kagimu, Julius Poloto, Pius Obuya and Allan Okello converted with success whilst Vipers’ midfielder Mujahid ‘Baden’ Ogama blasted his kick high of the goal posts.

[/media-credit] Muhammed Shaban (left) vies for the ball with Lesotho’s Monaheng Ramalefane Credit: ©Chris Ricco/BackpagePix

Uganda will now play Egypt in the third place play off match on Saturday before the main match of the tournament – the final, when South Africa takes on Lesotho.

Lesotho will play in their third final after previous appearances in 1990 and 2005, but are seeking their first championship win.

South Africa are five-time winners and could join Zimbabwe on six with victory in the final.

Tournament Statistics:

  • Matches Played: 20
  • Goals scored: 32

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)

Goalscorers:

  • 3 goals – Muhammad Shaban (Uganda), Luvuyo Mkatshana (South Africa)
  • 2 – Abdelrahman Amr (Egypt), Lyle Foster (South Africa), 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), Stephen Mukwala (Uganda), Enzo Mungendje (Namibia), King Nasama (Zimbabwe), Nkosingiphile Ngcobo (South Africa), Allan Okello (Uganda)

David Isabirye is a senior staff writer for Kawowo Sports where he covers most of the major events.

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