Marcel Zimba scored the only goal as Zambia opened their TotalEnergies U17 AFCON Algeria 2023 | COSAFA Qualifier campaign with a narrow Group B victory over Mozambique at the Bingu National Stadium on Saturday.
The hard-fought contest was decided 10 minutes into the second period when Zimba provided a neat finish to secure the three points for his side. Â
South Africa earlier laid down a marker of their potential with an 11-0 victory over Seychelles in the other match in the pool. The excellent Siyabonga Mabena scored five goals as the South Africans romped to the win, helped too by their captain Benjamin Wallis, who scored a hattrick despite playing as a centre-back. The last of his goals was a penalty.
There were also strikes by Dhakier Lee, Bennet Mokoena and Xhosa Manyana in the massive win.
The top two teams in each pool advance to the semifinals, with the two finalists in this year’s competition earning a spot at the TotalEnergies U17 AFCON Algeria 2023 in April next year.Â
Group A action will resume on Sunday with a single fixture as Malawi take on Namibia (15h30 CAT kick-off). Malawi drew 2-2 with Botswana in their opening game on Friday.
Meanwhile, South Africa sealed their place in the COSAFA Girls’ Under-17 Championship semifinals in emphatic style as they cantered to a 12-0 victory over Namibia, with no less than nine players getting on the scoresheet.
All matches will be streamed live on COSAFA.TV and FIFA+,
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
COSAFA GIRLS’ UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP
Group B
Comoros 0 Botswana 8 (Lotang Ebineng 8′, 44′, 87′, Katlo Ditsile 34′, 55′, Mbapeua Hangara 41′, Palesa Mokopakgosi 42′, Lebogang Dilelo 90′)
Group A
Namibia 0 South Africa 12 (Gositang Motshegwe 2′, Sinazo Ntshota 4’, Ntando Phahla 13’, Olwethu Sosibo 31’, 64, Nobahle Mdelwa 32’, 48′, Andrielle Mibe 43’, 46′, Julia Goncalves 71’, Tatiana Correia 81’, Naledi Nkosi 89’)
TOTALENERGIES U17 AFCON ALGERIA 2023 | COSAFA QUALIFIER
Group B
Seychelles 0 South Africa 11 (Siyabonga Mabena 4′, 9′, 26′, 45′, 74′, Dhakier Lee 10′, Bennet Mokoena 25′, Benjamin Wallis 48′, 52′, 90’pen, Xhosa Manyana 57′)
Zambia 1 (Marcel Zimba 55’) Mozambique 0
SUNDAY’S FIXTURES
TOTALENERGIES U17 AFCON ALGERIA 2023 | COSAFA QUALIFIER
Group A
15h30 CAT (13h30 GMT): Malawi vs Namibia – Bingu National Stadium
TOTALENERGIES U17 AFCON ALGERIA 2023 | COSAFA QUALIFIER STATISTICS
Matches Played: 3
Goals scored: 16
Biggest victory: Seychelles 0 South Africa 11 (Group B, December 3)
Most goals in a game: 11 – Seychelles 0 South Africa 11 (Group B, December 3)
STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Botswana | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Malawi | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Namibia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 3 |
| Zambia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Mozambique | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Seychelles | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | -11 | 0 |
GOALSCORERS
5 goals – Siyabonga Mabena (South Africa)
3 – Benjamin Wallis (South Africa)
1 – Vincent Harrison (Malawi), Dhakier Lee (South Africa), Xhosa Manyana (South Africa), Mwisho Mhango (Malawi), Bennet Mokoena (South Africa), Losika Ratshukudu (Botswana), Marcel Zimba (Zambia)
Own Goal – Julius Banda (Malawi)
Congratulations to the Lusaka select under 17 for beating the Maambas. This is not our national team, selection was biased.