22 September 2019 – Zambia and Uganda completed big wins on day three of the 2019 COSAFA Women’s Under-17 Championship to underline their credentials as favourites to advance from Group A.
But neither has completed the job yet going into Tuesday’s final group games, but they have at least hot top gear in terms of their performance.
Zambia showed their quality with a comprehensive 15-0 success over the Comoros Islands thanks to four goals from Florence Kasonde, who scored an 11-minute hat-trick on the day.
It was a commanding performance from the Zambians, who opened the scoring through another hat-trick hero, Shelly Masumo, in the third minute.
Cindy Banda also scored three goals in the rout, which moved Zambia to the top of Group A ahead of their final pool match against hosts Mauritius on Tuesday.
Zambia have four points at the top of the pool, the same number as Uganda, though they are ahead on goal-difference.
That means they need just a draw in their final match against Mauritius to make sure of a semi-final place.
Uganda completed an 11-0 rout of Mauritius, with captain Juliet Nalukenge’s six goals taking her to the top of the competition’s scoring charts with seven overall.
Fauzia Najjemba scored a brace and there was even a chance for goalkeeper Daphine Nyayenga to get her name on the scoresheet when she converted a penalty.
It was a comprehensive success for the East African guest nation that underlines their potential to go on and lift the trophy as the groups begin to take shape.
The Group B action continues on Monday and all eyes will be on South Africa after their record-breaking 28-0 rout of Seychelles at the weekend.
South Africa will now take on Botswana (kick-off 15h30; 13h30 GMT), their toughest pool opponents, and a win will ensure they advance to the next round.
The South Africans broke all sorts of records in their massive victory – it was the biggest score in an international match in Africa, the biggest winning margin in a women’s competitive international and the largest margin of victory by any South African team.
Monday’s opponents will present a sterner challenge though, but it is a chance for South African to exact some revenge after they were knocked out of the 2020 Olympic Games qualifiers by Botswana’s senior team earlier this month.
The first fixture on Monday sees Seychelles take on Madagascar (12h30; 10h30 GMT) and their simple aim will be to put in a more accomplished performance than last time out.
Madagascar will be hoping to stay in the competition with a win after they lost their opener 6-0 to Botswana.
You can follow all the action live with our stream on www.cosafa.tvor via our website, www.cosafa.com.
SUNDAY’S RESULTS:
Group A
Comoros 0 Zambia 15 (Masumo 3, 8’pen, 66′, Kasonde 17′, 18′, 28′, 52′, Maenfou 27’og, C. Banda 29′, 45′, 55′, Chilenga 32′, T. Lungu 34′, 75′, E. Banda 62′)
Uganda 11 (Kunihira 1′, Nalukenge 5′, 35′, 49′, 51′, 61′, 74′, Musibika 14′, Najjemba 28′, 66′, Nyayenga 54’pen) Mauritius 0
MONDAY’S FIXTURES:
Group B
Seychelles vs Madagascar (KO 12h30, 10h30 GMT) – St. François Xavier Stadium
South Africa vs Botswana (KO 15h30, 13h30 GMT) – St. François Xavier Stadium
STANDINGS
Group A P W D L GF GA Pts
Zambia 2 1 1 0 16 1 4
Uganda 2 1 1 0 12 1 4
Mauritius 2 1 0 1 5 12 3
Comoros 2 0 0 1 1 20 0
Group B P W D L GF GA Pts
South Africa 1 1 0 0 28 0 3
Botswana 1 1 0 0 6 0 3
Madagascar 1 0 0 1 0 6 0
Seychelles 1 0 0 1 0 28 0
TOURNAMENT STATS:
Matches Played: 6
Goals scored: 68
Biggest victory: South Africa 28 Seychelles 0 (Group B, September 21)
Most goals in a game: 28 – South Africa 28 Seychelles 0 (Group B, September 21)
GOALSCORERS
7 goals – Juliet Nalukenge (Uganda)
6 – Tiffany Kortjie, Oyisa Marhasi (both South Africa)
4 – Florence Kasonde, Shelly Masumo (both Zambia)
3 – Nabeelah Galant, Sonika Mzingeli, Jessica Wade (all South Africa), Cindy Banda (Zambia)
2 – Yaone Modise, Christinah Monyatsi (both Botswana), Jerusha Ramasawmy (Mauritius), Tiyana Carollissen, Sonika Mzingeli (both South Africa), Fauzia Najjemba (Uganda), Tisilile Lungu (Zambia)
1 – Serati Modisenyane, Bofelo Rantsho (both Botswana), Moinahedji Ali (Comoros), Marie Quirin, Marie Verloppe (both Mauritius), Nelly Gamede, Yolanda Ndluli, Christy Noble, Shakira O’Malley, Hlela Philisani (all South Africa), Margret Kunihira, Stella Musibika, Daphine Nyayenga (Uganda), Esther Banda, Maweta Chilenga (both Zambia)
Own goal – Soukaina. Maenfou (Comoros)