Namibia beat Amajimbos, South Africa’s national u17 men’s side 3-1on penalties in the final of the 2016 COSAFA Under-17 Championships final in Mauritius on Sunday.

Namibia beat Amajimbos, South Africa’s national u17 men’s side 3-1on penalties in the final of the 2016 COSAFA Under-17 Championships final in Mauritius on Sunday.

With the match deadlocked at 1-1 after the regulation 90 minutes, the match went straight to the lottery of a penalty shoot-out and the Namibians who had lost to Amajimbos 4-0 in the group stages made an amazing turn around.

They actually took the lead in the 64th minute through substitute Godwin Awaseb who smashed the ball past Glen Baadjies whose powerful shot hit the roof of the net.

The Molefi Ntseki side who went into the final as hot favourites as they had not conceded a goal until the final, equalised six minutes later when striker Thabiso Monyane unleashed a cracker to make it 1-1 in the 70th minute.

Monyane could have stolen it for Amajimbos but fluffed an easy chance with five minute to full time when he sliced his effort wide with the Namibia keeper a beaten man.

That miss proved costly as the match went to penalties where Namibia emerged 3-1 winners.

Amajimbos take on Tanzania on 6 August in the first leg of the CAF u17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, with the return leg scheduled for Dar es Salaam on 21 August. The ultimate winner qualifies for the African Youth championships finals in Madagascar early next year.


Starting line-ups:

South Africa XI:
Glen Baadjies, Mswati Mavuso, Luke Fleurs, Sechaba Mokoena, Lethabo Mazibuko, Nkanyiso Shinga, Bonga Dladla, Lina Mchilizeli, Luke le Roux, Thabiso Monyane, Siphamandla Ntuli.

Subs:
Tshepo Mohui, Malesela Langa, Mjabulise Mkhize, Tyreese Pillay, Sabelo Radebe, Ndamolelo Radzilane, S’miso Bophela, Lyle Foster


Namibia XI:
Josef Phillipus, Stevano Dundee, Stanley Ndjavera, Giovani Kaninab, Eldery Morgan, Alex Kaongelwa, Rivaldo Laksman, Johannes Hollombach, Lubeni Haukongo, Denzel Narib, Junior Petrus.

Subs:
Immanuel Isaya, Helmuth Namaseb, Vaino Uugwanga, Matias Shipanga, Abram Tjahikika, Jovane Narib, Megameno Kapuku, Pitsi Ameb, Godwin Awaseb