dyton mupawaenda
THE Young Warriors got their COSAFA Cup campaign underway with a 1-1 draw against Botswana as the junior regional tournament, which is also serving as the African qualifiers for the 2025 CAF Under-20 championships, got underway in Mozambique yesterday.
The first day of the tourney produced 11 goals.
It took 20 minutes for a shot on target to be registered as Botswana defender Perfect Nfhandiso struck from long range, but Zimbabwe goalkeeper Joseph Kaunda was equal to the task.
Zimbabwe responded eight minutes later with a well struck goal from outside the 18-yard box as Enock Njabulo Moyo fired home.
The Botswana attacking mentality finally paid off on 74 minutes when Philip Kaku levelled the score from a cut back.
The crossbar denied Botswana the lead, and possibly the win, following a rocket shot from Ratshukudu.
His attempt crashed against the upright.
An attempt from Zimbabwe’s Nisbet Muzenda in time added on also hit the woodwork.
Hosts Mozambique suffered a shock setback when they were narrowly defeated 5-4 by neighbours Eswatini in an exciting encounter.
Mozambique’s Kelvio Neves broke the deadlock when he headed home from Edvaldo Junior’s cross to give his side the lead in the 19th minute.
Eswatini’s patience finally paid off in the 35th minute when they caught Mozambique on a counter and Phiwayinkhosi Dube coolly converted.
Just two minutes after the equaliser, Alakhe Mdluli’s individual brilliance saw him dribbling past the home defender before he chipped the ball past a diving goalkeeper to give his side the lead.
When Mdluli registered his second goal, the score was 4-1 to Eswatini after 53 minutes. – Sports Reporter/COSAFA
Bongani Ndlovu
Mathew Masinge