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A DAY after eliminating Zimbabwe from the COSAFA Cup, Kenya were also sent packing as Namibia secured the solitary best-placed runners-up ticket available for the semi-final stage.
With three groups of four teams taking part in the opening round, the semi-final tickets were available for the group winners and one best-placed runner-up.
Kenya beat Zimbabwe 2-0 to take up second position in Group B with six points from three matches and, in the process, eliminated the Warriors from the tournament.
Zimbabwe needed a draw against Kenya to win Group B and looked on course at half-time as they were goalless.
However, poor defending gifted Kenya two second half goals, sending Zimbabwe third in the group.
Kenya’s 2-0 victory was not enough to take them above the Comoros and they had to wait for a day to find out if they were staying in the tournament.
However, Group C was still outstanding with two teams on four points each and not facing each other.
Angola and Namibia won their matches and progressed from Group C.
Tomorrow, Group B winners Comoros will take on Angola in the first game at 3pm, before Mozambique battle with Namibia in the second game at 6pm.
Both matches will be played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Angola defeated Lesotho 3-1 to take top spot in Group C on goals scored, having netted six times to Namibia’s five.
Lehlohonolo Fothoane gave Lesotho the lead on 26 minutes, but when Depu slotted a penalty just before half-time, he levelled the game and moved to the top of the 2024 COSAFA Cup scorers charts alongside Namibia’s Bethuel Muzeu with a third goal in the competition.
Vidinho then netted a second for the Angolans on 63 minutes to ensure they would advance to the knock-out rounds, before Miro added a second penalty late on to net his side’s third goal.
Namibia also won 3-1 as they defeated Seychelles and take second place in the pool with seven points, but advance to the semifinals as the best runner-up from across the three groups.
They beat Kenya (six points, Group B) and South Africa (five points, Group A). — Sports Reporter/COSAFA.
Online Reporter