Zimbabwe’s Young Warriors faced a heartbreaking elimination from the 2025 CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualification after a gripping 6-5 defeat in a penalty shootout against Zambia in the COSAFA Qualifier semifinals held in Mozambique.
The match kicked off with Zambia displaying dominance, particularly in the first half. Mumba Mwale opened the scoring early, finding the back of the net with a powerful shot that soared into the roof of the goal following a crucial deflection. Just 25 minutes into the match, Zambia’s captain, David Simukonda, showcased his leadership by connecting with a precise cross from Emmanuel Mwanza, heading the ball into the net to extend Zambia’s lead to 2-0.
Despite the challenging start, the Young Warriors showed resilience and determination in the second half. They significantly upped their game, with substitute Prince Ndhlovu making an immediate impact by scoring with an impressive overhead kick, bringing Zimbabwe back into contention. The momentum shifted further when Zimbabwe was awarded a penalty after Simukonda was brought down in the box. Denzel Mapuwa stepped up to take the penalty, but his shot was saved. However, Ndhlovu was quick to follow up and scored from the rebound, leveling the match at 2-2.
With the score tied, the match moved into a penalty shootout, a tense affair where both teams initially missed early opportunities to take the lead. After a nail-biting sequence, Zambia ultimately triumphed 6-5 in penalties, securing their place in the final.
In the other semifinal match, South Africa managed a narrow 1-0 victory over Angola. Despite Angola’s goalkeeper, Domingo Da Silva, making a vital double save early on, Lee Jody Ahshene broke the deadlock shortly after, giving South Africa the advantage.
The South African side nearly doubled their lead when Shandre Miguel Campbell’s powerful shot struck the crossbar early in the second half. As the match progressed, Angola pressed for an equalizer, ramping up the pressure in the dying minutes. However, their efforts fell short, and they were unable to find the back of the net.
With both teams qualifying for the AFCON U20 finals, South Africa and Zambia will now face each other in the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations COSAFA Qualifier final on Saturday. The winner will earn the opportunity to represent Africa at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile next year.
