Hosts South Africa booked their place in the semi-finals of the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship 2025 after a 2-0 victory over Angola in a top-of-the-table Group A clash at Seshego Stadium on Saturday, helped by a favourable result in the pool’s other match between Malawi and Lesotho.
South Africa secure their last-4 place as Group A winners with six points from their two fixtures to date.
Malawi and Angola both have three points after the second round of matches in the pool, but as they play each other in their final fixture on Tuesday, only one can match South Africa’s tally.
And whoever that may be, South Africa would be ahead of them on the head-to-head rule.
Both can still play to win and aim to be the best runner-up across the three pools and book a semi-final spot that way.
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis made wholesale changes from the opening match against Malawi, with only two players retained in the starting line-up, including first-goal scorer Gabriela Salgado.
South Africa made a bright start and took the lead inside the opening 15 minutes when Isabella Ludwig provided the pass for Salgado, the JVW FC attacker finishing calmly to break the deadlock.
Angola had a chance to respond soon after as captain Arminda Lopes went close, but she was unable to hit the target.
South Africa goalkeeper Dineo Magagula was then called into action from an Angola corner, making an important save as the hosts carried a slender lead into the interval.
With Angola showing strong resistance in defence, clear chances were limited for long spells. South Africa almost doubled the advantage in the closing 20 minutes when Sibingakonke Mzobe met an opening in the box, but fired over the crossbar.
The second goal arrived with 11 minutes remaining after changes from the bench injected fresh momentum. The record seven-time COSAFA Women’s Championship winners earned a corner and Nonhlanhla Mthandi reacted quickest to score the rebound from the set-piece to seal the win.
In the later kick-off, Malawi thrashed Lesotho 8-1 to move into second place in the pool with three points. Ireen Khumalo scored twice, while Deborah Henry netted the first hat-trick of the tournament.
Vanessa Chikupila added another as the Scorchers built a commanding lead before the break. Vutimbiko Mkandawawire and Olivia Phikani were also on target in the second half.
Makhotso Moalosi struck Lesotho’s consolation, her second goal of the tournament, but they remain bottom of the group with no points after two matches.
Action continues on Sunday with Matchday 2 in Group B at Seshego Stadium, where Botswana face Eswatini at 12h00 CAT (10h00 GMT), followed by Zambia against Zimbabwe at 15h00 (13h00 GMT).
Entrance for fans to all matches will be FREE of charge. Tickets are distributed on a first come, first served basis. You can view all of the fixtures here.
If you cannot get to the stadium, you can watch all matches streamed LIVE on FIFA+ and COSAFA’s YouTube channel,
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
Group A – Seshego Stadium
South Africa 2 (Salgado 12’, Mthandi 78’) Angola 0
Malawi 8 (Khumalo 3′, 43′, Henry 9′, 10′, 45′, Chikupila 38′, Mkandawire 50′, Phikani 57′) Lesotho 1 (Moalosi 72′)
SUNDAY’S FIXTURES
Group B – Seshego Stadium
Botswana vs Eswatini (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Zambia vs Zimbabwe (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| South Africa (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Malawi | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Angola | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Lesotho | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | -9 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Zambia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Zimbabwe | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Eswatini | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| Botswana | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Namibia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Madagascar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mozambique | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 7
Goals scored: 24
Biggest victory: Malawi 8 Lesotho 1 (Group A, February 21)
Most goals in a game: 9 – Malawi 8 Lesotho 1 (Group A, February 21)
GOALSCORERS
3 goals – Deborah Henry (Malawi)
2 – Ireen Khumalo (Malawi), Makhotso Moalosi (Lesotho)
1 – Leena Alweendo (Namibia), Susan Banda (Zambia), Regina Chanda (Zambia), Vanessa Chikupila (Malawi), Millicent Hikuam (Namibia), Sibulele Holweni (South Africa), Arminda Lopes (Angola), Cristina Makua (Angola), Rutendo Makore (Zimbabwe), Vitumbiko Mkandawire (Malawi), Bonolo Mokoma (South Africa), Nonhlanhla Mthandi (South Africa), Kabange Mupopo (Zambia), Olivia Phikani (Malawi), Gabriela Salgado (South Africa), Maria Viera (Angola), Praynance Zvawanda (Zimbabwe)
Le Malawi écrase le Lesotho, l’Afrique du Sud confirme
La quatrième journée de la Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship 2026, disputée le samedi 21 février, a tenu toutes ses promesses en offrant un spectacle offensif de haute volée dans le Groupe A. Le grand enseignement de cette levée est la confirmation de la suprématie de l’Afrique du Sud, qui a validé un deuxième succès consécutif en dominant l’Angola sur le score de 2-0.
Les Banyana Banyana ont fait la différence grâce à une ouverture du score précoce de Gabriela Moodaly-Salgado dès la 12e minute, avant que Nonhlanhla Mthandi ne mette fin au suspense en fin de rencontre à la 79e minute. Avec six points au compteur, les Sud-Africaines caracolent en tête de leur poule. Dans l’autre duel du groupe, le Malawi a réalisé un véritable festival offensif en étrillant le Lesotho 8-1.
Cette rencontre a permis à Deborah de s’installer seule en tête du classement des buteuses avec un triplé retentissant (9’, 10’, 45+2’), portant son total à trois réalisations. Khumalo a également brillé avec un doublé, complété par les buts de Chikupila, Mkandawire et Phikani. Le Malawi se relance ainsi dans la course à la qualification avec la meilleure différence de buts du tournoi (+5).
Après ces émotions, le tournoi bascule ce dimanche 22 février sur le Groupe B au Seshego Stadium pour une journée qui s’annonce décisive. À 12h, le Botswana affrontera l’Eswatini dans un duel de bas de tableau. Les deux nations, battues lors de leur entrée en lice, n’ont déjà plus le droit à l’erreur pour espérer voir le tour suivant. Le choc de la journée aura lieu à 15h30 entre la Zambie et le Zimbabwe.
Les deux équipes occupent actuellement la tête du groupe avec trois points chacune. La Zambie, forte de son large succès initial 3-0 contre le Botswana le 19 février — qui reste à ce jour le plus large succès du tournoi —, part favorite. Toutefois, les joueuses du Zimbabwe, victorieuses de l’Eswatini 2-0, comptent bien bousculer la hiérarchie. À ce stade de la compétition, les statistiques témoignent de l’intensité des débats : 24 buts ont été inscrits en seulement sept rencontres disputées, promettant un dimanche riche en rebondissements pour les passionnés de football féminin austral.
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