5 August 2019 – Hosts South Africa sealed top spot in Group A as they beat Madagascar 3-0 to claim a full haul of nine points in the 2019 COSAFA Women’s Championship in Port Elizabeth.
The match took place at the Wolfson Stadium.
On a day when midfielder Mamello Makhabane celebrated her 100th cap, strikes from Ode Fulutudilu, a cheeky overhead kick by captain Refoloe Jane and a Makhabane-deflected shot sealed the win for Banyana Banyana.
So far South Africa has scored more goals than any other team – 23 goals in the group stages. They have won all three games, joining Zimbabwe in that category. The hosts have conceded just one goal.
Zambia has scored the second highest goals, 18, followed by Zambia, 16 and Zimbabwe on 15.
Banyana Banyana has 11 goal scorers, led by vice captain Refiloe Jane on 5, Amanda Mthandi on 4, two each for Ode Fulutudilu, Hilda Magaia and Bambanani Mbane, while there was one goal each for Kholosa Biyana, Noxolo Cesane, Tiisetso Makhubela, Mamello Makhabane, Busisiwe Ndimeni and Lebohang Ramalepe.
Zimbabwe confirmed their semifinal spot later in the day with a comprehensive 7-0 drubbing of Eswatini at the same venue.
The Mighty Warriors finish top of Group C and will face Banyana Banyana in the last Four, in what will be a titanic clash between two powerful sides in the region.
Emmalulate Msipa scored four goals for Zimbabwe as they cruised to the win, while Mavis Chirandu bagged a brace and Rudo Neshamba scored the other.
Eswatini had won their two previous games, but were no match for their more illustrious opponents.
The other match in Group C saw Angola defeat Mozambique 3-1 in a battle of the Portuguese-speaking nations.
Laurinda Maonte scored twice for the Angolans to go with a goal for Arminda Lopes, this after Violeta David had put Mozambique in front.
Zambia and Botswana, who both have six points, meet at the Wolfson Stadium at 15h30 (13h30 GMT) and a draw would see both teams advance – Botswana as the best-placed runner-up.
However, a win for Zambia or Botswana would see the Malawians go through based on their superior goal-difference.
The other match in the pool sees Namibia take on Mauritius at the Gelvandale Stadium at the same time.
Malawi kept alive their hopes of a semifinal place as the best runner-up when they thumped Comoros Islands 13-0.
Linda Kasenda scored eight goals for the She-Flames to shoot to joint top of the scorers charts, with Asimenye Simwaka (two), Sabinah Thom and Zainabu Kapanda also on target for Malawi.
They must now wait for the outcome of Group B, which will conclude on Tuesday (6 August).
COSAFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS:
MONDAY’S RESULTS
South Africa 3 (Fulutudilu 9′, Jane 38′, Razafimanantsoa 77′ og) Madagascar 0
Malawi 13 (Simwaka 17′, 17′, Kasenda 31′, 43′, 44′, 48′, 62′, 67′, 88′, 90’, Thom 41′, 47′, Kapanda 66′) Comoros Islands 0
Zimbabwe 7 (Msipa 3′, 9′, 42′, 78′, Neshamba 25′, Chirandu 32′, 64′) Eswatini 0
Mozambique 1 (Davide 9′) Angola 3 (Maonte 18′, 81′, A. Lopes 36′)
TUESDAY’S FIXTURES:
15h30 (13h30 GMT) – Zambia vs Botswana – Wolfson Stadium
15h30 (13h30 GMT) – Namibia vs Mauritius – Gelvandale Stadium
STANDINGS:
GROUP A P W D L GF GA PTS
South Africa (Q) 3 3 0 0 23 1 9
Malawi 3 2 0 1 16 3 6
Madagascar 3 1 0 2 5 6 3
Comoros Islands 3 0 0 3 1 35 0
GROUP B P W D L GF GA PTS
Zambia 2 2 0 0 18 2 6
Botswana 2 2 0 0 4 0 6
Namibia 2 0 0 2 2 4 0
Mauritius 2 0 0 2 0 18 0
GROUP C P W D L GF GA PTS
Zimbabwe (Q) 3 3 0 0 15 1 9
Eswatini 3 2 0 1 7 8 6
Angola 3 1 0 2 4 9 3
Mozambique 3 0 0 3 2 10 0
TOURNAMENT STATS:
Matches Played: 16
Goals scored: 97
Biggest victory: South Africa 17 Comoros Islands 0 (Group A, July 31)
Most goals in a game: 17 – South Africa 17 Comoros Islands 0 (Group A, July 31)
GOALSCORERS:
8 goals – Linda Kasenda (Malawi), Rachel Nachula (Zambia)
6 –Emmaculate Msipa (Zimbabwe)
5 – Refiloe Jane (South Africa), Rudo Neshamba (Zimbabwe)
4 – Amanda Mthandi (South Africa)
3 – Asimenye Simwaka (Malawi)
2 – Grace Chanda (Zambia),Mavis Chirandu (Zimbabwe), Ode Fulutudilu (South Africa), Zainabu Kapanda (Malawi), Arminda Lopes (Angola), Hilda Magaia (South Africa), Laurinda Maonte (Angola), Bambanani Mbane (South Africa), Tenanile Mgcamphalala (Eswatini), Hellen Mubanga (Zambia), Mary Mwakapila (Zambia), Marjoury Nyaumwe (Zimbabwe), Marie Rasoanandrasana (Madagascar), Nomvula Sanga (Eswatini), Sabinah Thom (Malawi)
1 –Michelle Abueng (Botswana), Kholosa Biyana (South Africa), Noxolo Cesane (South Africa), Hellen Chanda (Zambia), Theresa Chewe (Zambia), Rhoda Chileshe (Zambia), Zenatha Coleman (Namibia), Violeta David (Mozambique), Keitumetse Dithebe (Botswana), Phumzile Dlamini (Eswatini), Esalenna Galekhutle (Botswana), Sibonelo Gwebu (Eswatini), Annouscka Kordom (Namibia), Lucia (Mozambique), Tiisetso Makhubela (South Africa), Mamello Makhabane (South Africa), Cristina Makua (Angola), Wafat Mari (Comoros Islands), Tshegofatso Mosotho (Botswana), Busiswe Ndimeni (South Africa), Hanitriniana Nivonirina (Madagascar), Lebogang Ramalepe (South Africa), Aimée Razanampiavy (Madagascar), Solomampionona Razananivo (Madagascar), Nonhle Simelane (Eswatini), Salome Vinkhumbu (Malawi)
Own goals –Marie Jerome (Mauritius), Hanifa Melanie (Comoros Islands), Lalaina Razafimanantsoa (Madagascar)