South Africa edge Zambia to COSAFA U20 title 

South Africa were crowned champions at TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations  | COSAFA Qualifier on Saturday after beating defending champions Zambia 2-0 in Matola,  Mozambique.

Both teams had already qualified for the continental finals next year, but South Africa have the added bonus of regional bragging rights as they claimed a ninth title in the COSAFA Under-20 age group in some style.

South Africa scored 16 goals in the tournament without conceding a goal and were  undoubtedly the most impressive of the teams on display under coach Raymond Mdaka. 

Zambia fell just short having come through the pool stages as the best runner-up and in the end lost two of their four games played.

Shandre Campbell gave the South Africans an early lead in fifth minute of the game with a shot from the edge of the box from Siyabonga Mabena’s pass. 

The Zambian players were forced to take shots from range as they struggled to penetrate the solid opponent’s defence.

Lee Jody Ahshene netted a second goal for South Africa in the referee’s optional time at the  end of the first half to make the score 2-0, just as Zambia looked to be building a head of  steam in search of an equaliser.

South Africa defender Tylon Smith cleared the ball off the goal line before goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe stretched to make a brilliant save to keep the score 2-0 early in the second  half.

Zambia kept pushing until the final whistle, but the South Africans remained disciplined and  rock solid at the back.

Campbell, who plays in Belgium for Club Brugge, was named Player of the Tournament,  while Ahshene won the Golden Boot for his four goals.

South Africa keeper Lowe won the Golden Glove having gone through more than 450 minutes of football at the tournament without conceding a goal and coming up with some big saves in the semifinals and final.

Zambia’s consolation for earning silver was that they went home with the Fair Play prize. 

SATURDAY’S RESULT

Final

South Africa 2 (Campbell 5’, Ahshene 45’) Zambia 0

TOURNAMENT STATS

Matches Played: 18

Goals scored: 55

Biggest victory: South Africa 6 Lesotho 0 (Group C, September 29) 

Most goals in a game: 9 – Mozambique 4 Eswatini 5 (Group A, September 26)

GOALSCORERS

4 goals – Lee Jody Ahshene (South Africa)

3 – Shandre Campbell (South Africa), Prince Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe), Kelvin Neves 

(Mozambique)

2 – Shakeel April (South Africa), Adiel Kaduya (Malawi), Kutlwano Letlhaku (South Africa), 

Paseka Maile (Lesotho), Alakhe Mdluli (Eswatini), Enock Moyo (Zimbabwe), Mumba Mwale 

(Zambia), David Simukonda (Zambia)

1 – Falahidine Ahamada (Comoros), Malaik Bacar (Comoros), Tanaka Cherera (Zimbabwe), 

Phiwayinkhosi Dube (Eswatini), Engilio Goagoseb (Namibia), Malwende Gwebu (Eswatini), 

Amado Haidara (Angola), Gaone Japane (Botswana), Jose (Mozambique), Philip Kaku 

(Botswana), Ofentse Kgosana (South Africa), Siyabonga Mabena (South Africa), Hermas 

Masinja (Malawi), Njongo Mazibuko (Eswatini), Mbekezele Mbokazi (South Africa), Mwisho 

Mhango (Malawi), Nisbet Muzenda (Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Mwanza (Zambia), Chewane 

Ntakha (Lesotho), Simao Pedro (Angola), Filipe Quissequel (Angola), Losika Ratshukudu 

(Botswana), Yuran Seia (Mozambique), Sifiso Timba (South Africa)

Own goal – Fostino Chanda (Zambia), Leluma Mofoko (Lesotho)

By COSAFA Media Team