Zimbabwe complete semifinal line-up in Gauteng

Zimbabwe have completed the semifinal line-up at the 2023 Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women’s Championship in Gauteng following a 1-1 draw with Botswana in the Group C decider on Wednesday.

They join Malawi, who topped Group A with nine points, Zambia and Mozambique, who finished in first and second places with seven points respectively from Group B.

Zambia and Zimbabwe will clash in a titanic battle in the first semifinal on Friday at noon, before Malawi and Mozambique go head-to-head at 3:30pm.

Both games will be played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville and the much anticipated Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology will be used for the first time at a Cosafa tournament at this stage.

Botswana survived an early injury scare against Zimbabwe as goalkeeper Lesego Moeng needed medical attention in the first minute.

Three minutes later Zimbabwe won a corner-kick and it was Priviledge Mupeti who found Ennety Chemhere, who headed home the opener in the opening five minutes to give her side the lead.

Botswana won a free-kick after 25 minutes later and captain Kesegofetse Mochawe delivered it and forced Cynthia Shonga to punch away to deny them the equaliser.

Moments later Lesego Radiakanyo found Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse in the box and she missed the target.

Chemere could have extended the lead three minutes after the half hour mark from range but her shot hit the cross bar.

Zimbabwe took the narrow lead into halftime.

BEST DEFENSIVE RECORD

Botswana upped their tempo in the second half. Balothanyi Johannes could have grabbed the equaliser early on but it wasn’t to be as she couldn’t find the target,

The Mares piled on the pressure and they won a set-piece from range and the skipper Mocahwe was unlucky not to score.

Mupeti