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ZIMBABWE’S Young Warriors shot to the top of Group A following a fine 3-0 win over Eswatini at the ABB Stadium in Matola yesterday.
While Zimbabwe were celebrating their first win, hosts Mozambique bowed out of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations COSAFA Qualifier after Botswana came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory in the second game at the same stadium.
The results mean Botswana and Zimbabwe are now separated by goal difference at the top of Group A after both won their games.
Their own encounter on Match-Day One on Thursday ended in a 1-1 draw, which means they are level on four points, while Eswatini, 4-3 winners over Mozambique, are third with three points.
More importantly for Young Warriors coach Simon Marange and his charges is that they must keep their scoring momentum when they face an already eliminated Mozambique in their final Group A game.
They will be hoping Eswatini will either beat Botswana or restrict the Young Zebras to a draw.
In their game against Eswatini, Zimbabwe started the more determined to get an early goal.
They kept piling long balls into the opponent’s half and took long-range shots, but they could not find the target.
Takana Cherera gave Zimbabwe a 1-0 lead after 26 minutes, when he beat Eswatini goalkeeper Andile Awu with a long-range shot.
The half-time score was 1-0 in favour of Zimbabwe, who made the perfect start to the second half when Nisbet Muzenda converted from the penalty spot to increase the score to 2-0.
The penalty was awarded after Junior Mtsetfwa’s handball.
Prince Ndlovu added a third on 85 minutes when he met Kennedy Mupomba’s cross with a diving header.
In the second game of the day, Mozambique came into the contest against Botswana knowing they had a score to settle after losing their opening fixture against Eswatini.
Four minutes before the interval, Kelvio Neves jumped high to head home a cross from his skipper Fernando Jose to give the hosts a lead.
Botswana equalised after 67 minutes and were awarded a penalty after 74 minutes to go 2-1 up.
Only the top team in each pool advances to the semi-finals, along with the best-placed runners-up.
The two finalists qualify for the continental finals that are due to be played next year.
The continental finals will act as the African preliminary tournament for the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile, where the continent will have four representatives. — Sports Reporter/cosafa.com
Online Reporter