Young Copper Bullets book semi final after beating Botswana
Meanwhile at the Mavuso Stadium, Zambia held a heart-warming tribute to Chipolopolo captain Enock ‘Computer’ Mwepu at the TotalEnergies U20 AFCON Egypt 2023 COSAFA Qualifier Group A clash against Botswana at Mavuso stadium in Manzini.
The whole of the U20 technical bench stopped and clapped after 11-minutes on the clock in honour of Chipolopolo captain who dons jersey number 11, but was forced into football retirement because of a hereditary heart condition.
Prior to the kick-off of their final group A match, the young Chipolopolo players lined up inside their centre circle and clapped as a mark of solidarity to Mwepu affectionately known as computer due to his ball dazzling skills that opponents find difficult to deal with.
The gesture was also complemented by a positive result that saw Zambia finishing top of group A after edging Botswana 1 – 0 thanks to a solitary goal by Kingston Mutandwa in the 3rd minute which was enough to seal the victory for Zambia.
The result made it three wins out of three for Young Chipolopolo who will now prepare for the semi-finals.
Tomorrow sees the group stages of competition drawing to a close as Angola take on Seychelles who will be playing for pride following their two consecutive losses.
Reigning champions, Mozambique face Lesotho who have one foot into the semi-finals but will be wary of the potential danger by Angola and Lesotho who both have an outside chance of edging them at the top.
South Africa, who are high on confidence following their victory over Namibia have a tricky assignment against Comoros who are top of group A with no goals conceded.
Malawi officially concludes group A action with a deciding tie against 2020 silver-medalists, Namibia who will be looking at bowing out of the competition with a respectable finish after their disappointing run.
WEDNESDAY FIXTURES
Angola v Seychelles
Mozambique v Lesotho
South Africa v Comoros
Namibia v Malawi
STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Zambia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| Eswatini | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Botswana | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| Mauritius | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | -11 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Mozambique | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Angola | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Lesotho | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 3 |
| Seychelles | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Comoros | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| South Africa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Malawi | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Namibia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -6 | -4 | 0 |
RESULTS
Group A
Zambia 1 (Kingston Mutandwa 3’) Botswana 0
ESwatini 3 (Nkambule 3’ 5’ 40’ 54’) Philiso (14’ 90’) (Khumalo 79’) Mauritius 0
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 14
Goals scored: 42
Biggest victory: Eswatini 7 Mauritius 0, (11 October 2022)
Most goals in a game:
Eswatini 7 – Mauritius 0 (Group A) (11 October 2022)
GOALSCORERS
4 Goals – Mukelo Nkambule (Eswatini).
2 Goals – Rickson Ng’ambi (Zambia), Diogenes Inacio (Angola), Djwa Ramos (Mozambique), Denio Munhave (Mozambique), Chamito Alfandega (Mozambique), Oshwin Andries (South Africa), Siphephelo Philiso (Eswatini).
1 Goal – Chipyoka Songa (Zambia), Nonofo Mosweunyane (Botswana), Mayibongwe Mabuza (Eswatini), Vincent Mkandawire (Malawi), Chifundo Mphasi (Malawi), Danilson Makokisa (Angola), Isaac Vidal (Angola), Antonio Lopes (Angola), Antonio Sumbane (Mozambique), Glen Younousse (Comoros), Botshelo Motsheja (Botswana), Emmanuel Mukosha (Zambia), Lombe Mutale (Zambia), Yakine Said (Comoros), Samuel Betombo (Comoros), Neo Maieane (Lesotho), Relebohile Ratomo (South Africa), Luke Daniels (South Africa), Lawrence Doeseb (Namibia), Alberto Van Wyk (Namibia), Kingston Mutandwa (Zambia), Sizwe Khumalo (Eswatini).
Own Goals
1 goal – Nonofo Mosweunyane (Botswana)