Zimbabwe has solidified the semifinal lineup at the 2023 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship in Gauteng, securing their spot after a 1-1 draw with Botswana in the Group C decider on Wednesday.
They will join Malawi, who topped Group A with nine points, and Zambia and Mozambique, who claimed the first and second places in Group B with seven points each.
In the upcoming semifinal clashes, Zambia and Zimbabwe will engage in a thrilling battle at 12:00 PM on Friday at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville. Following that, Malawi and Mozambique will face off at 3:30 PM. Notably, these matches will introduce Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology for the first time in a COSAFA tournament at this stage.
Botswana encountered an early injury scare as their goalkeeper, Lesego Moeng, required medical attention within the first minute of the match. Just three minutes later, Zimbabwe won a corner-kick, and Priviledge Mupeti’s delivery found Ennety Chemhere, who headed home the opening goal within the first five minutes, granting her team an early lead.
Photo: COSAFA on X
Botswana had a chance to level the score after 25 minutes with a free kick, and their captain, Kesegofetse Mochawe, delivered it, forcing Cynthia Shonga to make a crucial save to deny them the equalizer. Shortly after, Lesego Radiakanyo set up Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse in the box, but the opportunity went amiss. Chemere came close to extending the lead just three minutes after the half-hour mark with a long-range shot that struck the crossbar. Zimbabwe carried the slim lead into halftime.
In the second half, Botswana intensified their efforts, with Balothanyi Johannes having a chance to level the score early on, but she couldn’t find the target. The Mares continued to exert pressure and won a set-piece from long range, but their skipper, Mochawe, was unfortunate not to find the back of the net.
Mupeti had an opportunity to provide her team with a two-goal cushion from a free-kick just outside the box after the hour mark, but her shot hit the woodwork. However, Botswana remained determined and managed to level the score with only five minutes remaining, courtesy of Johannes, who scored her second goal of the tournament.
Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, after which Malawi and Mozambique will face off. Photo: COSAFA on X
This marks Zimbabwe’s first international tournament since FIFA lifted the country’s suspension. They finished at the top of their group with seven points and maintained the best defensive record in the group stage, having conceded just one goal.
Botswana heads back to Gaborone as the group runners-up with five points, closely followed by Namibia with four points after their 2-0 victory over Lesotho in the non-decisive match played at the University of Johannesburg Soweto campus. In that encounter, Emma Naris scored in the first half, and Irene Kooper secured the winning goal, as last year’s semifinalists also exited the competition.
Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship Results on Wednesday, 11 October 2023
Group C
Zimbabwe 1 – 1 Botswana
Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship Semifinals Fixtures at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, on Friday, 13 October, 2023:
Zambia vs Zimbabwe (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Malawi vs Mozambique (KO 15h30; 13h30 GMT)
COSAFA Women’s Championship Group Standings
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Malawi (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 9 |
| South Africa | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Eswatini | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | -10 | 3 |
| Madagascar | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Zambia (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Mozambique (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Angola | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Comoros | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 13 | -11 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Zimbabwe (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Botswana | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Namibia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Lesotho | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | -6 | 0 |
Main Photo Caption: Zimbabwe have completed the 2023 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship semi-finals lineup after a 1-1 draw with Botswana in the Group C decider on Wednesday at Dobsonville Stadium on Wednesday, 11 October, 2023. Photo: COSAFA on X
Photo 2 Caption: Zimbabwe joins Malawi, who topped Group A with nine points, and Zambia and Mozambique, who claimed the first and second places in Group B with seven points each. Photo: COSAFA on X
Photo 3 Caption: Botswana heads back to Gaborone as the group runners-up with five points, closely followed by Namibia with four points after their 2-0 victory over Lesotho in the non-decisive match played at the University of Johannesburg Soweto campus.. Photo: COSAFA on X
Photo 4 Caption: In the upcoming semifinal clashes, Zambia and Zimbabwe will engage in a thrilling battle at 12:00 PM on Friday at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, after which Malawi and Mozambique will face off. Photo: COSAFA on X
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