Online Reporter
DEFENDING champions Angola will meet Madagascar and hosts South Africa will face Comoros after the semi-final line-up was completed at the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup with the final matches in Groups C and D in Manguang, Bloemfontein on Wednesday.
The semi-finals will now take place today, with Angola and Madagascar locking horns at 3pm and South Africa clashing with Comoros at 6pm.
Both games are at the Toyota Stadium. Botswana were within minutes of taking top spot in Group D, but a penalty from Joseph Phiri for Zambia earned a 3-3 draw for Chipolopolo and denied the Zebras a semi-final place, much to the delight of Comoros.
The Zebras raced into a 2-0 lead as goals from Thatayaone Kgamanyane and Serati Semadi (penalty) put them in the driving seat, before Zambia roared back to level the game at 2-2.
Charles Zulu converted a penalty and Tinklar Sakala added a second early in the second half.
It was anybody’s game after that but Botswana looked to have booked their semi-final place thanks to Thabo Maponda’s goal on the hour-mark.
But when they conceded a penalty in injury-time, Phiri converted to dash their semi-final dreams.
Eswatini missed out on top spot in Group C as they were defeated 2-1 by East African guest nation Tanzania, a result that meant Madagascar advanced to the semi-finals.
Eswatini led through Andy Magagula just before the half-hour mark, but they could not hold on for the win.
Iddy Nado equalised for Tanzania and Shekhani Khamis found a winner for them in the second half. — Cosafa. com
