Zambia thrashed Botswana 8-0 on Monday, December 10, to make sure of a semifinal spot in the Cosafa U17 soccer tournament.
After Malawi beat Botswana 6-1 the previous day, Zambia had to beat Botswana by five clear goals to make sure of a semifinal spot and they left nothing to chance as they raced into a 5-0 lead at halftime.
With Sulalani Phiri, Chisamba Lungu and Tom Bakala in sparkling form, Zambia soon opened up Botswanaâ??s defence. Phiri opened the scoring with a cracking shot from the edge of the box in the eighth minute and Bakala made it 2-0 five minutes later.
Zambia had a goal disallowed for offside but they soon went 4-0 up after two goals within a minute. Patson Kaimana found the net in the 29th minute and from the kickoff Phiri went on a great solo run and hit the back of the net with a cracking 30m shot.
Botswana were totally outplayed and Zambiaâ??s onslaught continued unabated. Just before halftime Kainama made it 5-0 with his second goal.
The one-way traffic continued in the second half and further goals by Raymond Simakoloui, Crispin Lungu, from the penalty spot and Humphrey Maseneko gave Zambia a resounding victory.
The victory put Zambia at the top of Group B on four points, beating Malawi on goal difference.
South Africa beat Mauritius
South Africa also made sure of a semifinal spot after beating Mauritius 3-0 at the Khomasdal field.
South Africa dominated possession but Mauritiusâ?? defence managed to hold out till the 35th minute when Kamogelo Mokotjo hit the back of the net.
Making good use of their wings, Bongani Mahlangu and Speedy Mabaso, South Africa stretched Mauritiusâ?? defence wide, while strikers Justice Nozozo and Khulekani Khumalo were a handful in the penalty area.
After sustained pressure Speedy Mabaso latched onto a Nozozo cross to make the score 2-0 in the 65th minute.
Mauritius hardly had one decent attempt at goal and South Africa wrapped up the match with their third goal just before full time. From a freekick, Mauritian goalie Bruno Marianne fumbled the ball and Nozozo was on hand to stab the loose ball into the net.
The victory put South Africa at the top of Group A with six points from two matches, followed by Lesotho on three points, while Mauritius finished on zero.
Last gasp winner for Namibia
At the Sam Nujoma Stadium, Namibia scored a last gasp 2-1 victory against Angola, but it wasnâ??t enough to see them through to the semifinals.
Angola took the lead through a 26th minute goal by Vidal Nsiandamba but Namibia equalised from the penalty spot at the start of the second half. After a foul on a defender, Eslin Kamuhanga stepped up and put the ball into the corner of the net.
With Kamuhanga and Sylvester Ortmann in fine form in midfield, more chances came there way, while a cross into Angolaâ??s box by Oswaldo Xamseb had to be scrambled away.
At the other end, Angolaâ??s captain Marcio Henrique, Zaldivar Cambinda and Jose Alfredo were kept well in check by Namibian defenders, Frenkie Tjongarero, Shetu Shipena and Benson Shilongo.
The match seemed to be heading for a draw when Namibia won a freekick in the final minute. Ryan Gariseb beat the offside trap down the right wing and expertly chipped the ball over Angolaâ??s keeper to send the 3 000-strong crowd wild with delight.
Zimbabwe beat Swaziland
Despite the victory, it was not enough to book Namibia a semifinal spot as Zimbabwe topped Group C after beating Swaziland 2-1 at the Khomasdal field.
Zimbabweâ??s goals were scored by Patrick Kaunda in the sixth minute and Elvis Mazivise 10 minutes later, while Patrick Zulu scored for Swaziland from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute, after a foul in the box.
Zimbabwe won Group C with seven points from three games, followed by Namibia on four and Angola and Swaziland on three each.
The runners up in Group A and B, Lesotho and Malawi will play out on December 11 to determine the best runner-up who will join South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe in the semifinals.