Angola, Namibia win at COSAFA Cup 2024

* Defending champions Zambia ousted after two losses without even scoring a goal

* Action continues tomorrow Comoros v ZambiaSuperSport GOtv Select 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360 (12:00)

* South Africa v EswatiniSuperSport GOtv Select 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360 (15:00)

Maravi Express

Angola and Namibia produced crucial wins in Group C at the COSAFA Cup 2024 this afternoon but Seychelles and Lesotho are still alive in an intriguing pool.

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Angola led early on against Seychelles but then had to come from behind to gain a 3-2 victory in a thrilling fixture, denying the islanders what would have been just their second ever win at the COSAFA Cup.

Depu put Angola ahead inside nine minutes, but Johan Gamatice equalised for Seychelles to send the teams into the break level at 1-1 while Brandon Labrosse then had Seychelles ahead within a minute of the re-start, but Depu equalised just before the hour-mark and Maestro lived up to his name by scoring the winner on 79 minutes.

Seychelles have only once before scored more than their current three goals in a COSAFA Cup campaign and they still have a game to go. That was in 2008 when they defeated Mauritius 7-0, their only COSAFA Cup win, and then also netted against Madagascar.

Namibia were 2-1 winners over Lesotho in another entertaining clash played in front of a sizeable crowd in which Ivan Kamberipa put Namibia in front on 36 minutes but Lesotho found the equaliser just after halftime through Neo Mokhachane.

Namibia looked the most likely to score again and that goal arrived following a composed finish from Bethuel Muzeu.

Yesterday’s match between Zambia and Zimbabwe

Angola top the pool going into Wednesday’s final round of games. They and Namibia have four points and a +1 goal-difference, but Angola have scored three goals to Namibia’s two.

Lesotho and Seychelles have a point each and are not out of contention for the semifinals.

The action continues tomorrow with four matches, two each at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and two more at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium.

Group B will conclude when Zimbabwe look to top the pool by gaining a draw at least in their clash with Kenya at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium as the Warriors are in the pound seats to book a place in the semi-finals, but conversely could yet fail to reach the knockout stages.

That is because there could be three teams on six points come the end of play and that will require some calculations.

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If Kenya beat Zimbabwe and Comoros do likewise to already ousted defending champions Zambia at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium then there will have a trio of clubs level at the top.

It will then come down to points in matches between them, then goal-difference and if that fails to separate the teams, goals scored.

Group A will also be completed tomorrow as hosts South Africa take on eSwatini at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and Mozambique meet Botswana at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium in what is the tightest of pools. Both games kick-off.

All four teams are on two points meaning anything can happen in this group. What is likely is that only top spot will be good enough as traditionally the best second-placed team in the pool stages has gone through with six points. The maximum these teams can get is five.

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Currently South Africa lead the pool on Fair Play points, but that could change rapidly tomorrow.

There have been 12 matches played so far in which 19 goals being scored — two from Depu (Angola), Affane Djambae (Comoros) and Michael Tapera (Zimbabwe).

With one goal each are Chamito Alfandega (Mozambique), Takunda Benhura (Zimbabwe), Rushwin Dortley (South Africa), Johan Gamatice, Lorenzo Hoareau, Brandon Labrosse (all Seychelles), Ivan Kamberipa, (Bethuel Muzeu (both Namibia), Maestro (Angola), Neo Mokhachane, Jane Thabantso (both Lesotho), Austine Odhiambo, Patrick Otieno (both Kenya).

Biggest victories were three — Zambia 0-2 Kenya (Group B, June 27); Kenya 0-2 Comoros (Group B, June 30); Zambia 0-2 Zimbabwe (Group B, June 30).

Meanwhile, MultiChoice is bringing the top southern African football showpiece closer home through live beaming on GOtv up to July 7 and the live broadcast details for the remaining games are (times CAT):

Tomorrow, Tuesday July 2

* 12:00: Comoros v ZambiaSuperSport GOtv Select 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360

* 15:00: South Africa v EswatiniSuperSport GOtv Select 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360

Wednesday July 3

* 15:00: Lesotho v AngolaSuperSport GOtv Select 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360

Friday July 5

* 15:00: Semifinal 1SuperSport GOtv Select 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360

* 18:00: Semifinal 2SuperSport GOtv Select 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360

Sunday July 7

* 12:00: Third Place PlayoffSuperSport GOtv Select 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360

* 15:00: FinalSuperSport GOtv Select 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360.—Reporting by COSAFA website, editing by Maravi Express

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