Bofelo Rantsho and Pearl Sikwane scored five goals each as Botswana sealed a semi-final place at the 2019 COSAFA Women’s Under-17 Championship with a comprehensive 14-1 victory over Seychelles at the Anjalay Stadium on Wednesday.
The Young Mares finish second in Group B behind South Africa, who maintained their 100 percent record with a 3-1 victory over Madagascar at the St. François Xavier Stadium.
Rantsho was unstoppable as she mesmerised the Seychelles defence, with a penalty and two free kicks among her haul of goals. She was closely followed by Pearl Sikwane, who also netted five times in what was an utterly dominant display. Kaone Mbongwe, Tlhompho Gabana and Lorato Motlogelwa (two) were also on the scoresheet.
Seychelles were able to celebrate their first goal of the competition, which will have been a great relief to them, as Kimbelly Chan-Tak-Hue who is a historic striker for the islanders in this competition.
South Africa eased to a 3-1 win over the Malagasy despite missing talismanic captain Jessica Wade through injury. Nelly Gamede opened the scoring midway through the first half with a long-range effort that cannoned in off the crossbar, before adding as second from the penalty spot. Oyisa Marhasi took her tournament tally to nine when she raced onto a through-ball and slipped the ball under Madagascar goalkeeper Chrystina Faraniaina.
Madagascar barely threatened the South African goal but won a penalty with a little more than 10 minutes to go, which Marie Raveloarisoa finished with aplomb.
Uganda Take on Botswana in the Last Four
Uganda roared into the knockout stages with a 20-0 win over Comoros Islands and will want to continue that form when they play Botswana at the St. François Xavier Stadium (kick-off 12h00 local time; 08h00 GMT).
The East Africans will also have the benefit of an extra day off and so may be fresher than the Young Mares as they seek to become just the second guest nation after Tanzania (2019 COSAFA Women’s Under-20 Championship) to go home with the trophy.
Uganda scored an impressive 32 goals and conceded just one in the pool stages and will be a formidable opponent for Botswana.
South Africa will face Zambia in the other semi-final (15h00; 11h00 GMT) and having been the only side to come through the pool stages with a 100 percent record, can go into the knockout rounds with some confidence. Zambia have shown excellent form as well though with their only dropped points a 1-1 draw with Uganda in their opening match, in what has otherwise been a dominant display from the team.
Photo 1 Caption: Nelly Lindokuhle Gamede South Africa receives her player of the Match award from Brenda Kunda (Match Commissioner) after the 2019 COSAFA Women’s Under-17 Championship game between Madagascar and South Africa at St Francois Xavier Stadium in Port Louis, Mauritius on 25 September 2019. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
With editing by gsport
(0 rating, 0 votes, rated)
Loading...
