Angola Secures Dominant Win Over Lesotho in U-20 Cosafa Cup

Maputo:Angola's under-20 national football team triumphed over Lesotho with a decisive 5-0 victory during their final Group B match of the U-20 Cosafa Cup on Tuesday. Despite the impressive win, their advancement to the semi-finals hinges on disciplinary tiebreakers. According to Angola Press News Agency, the match saw Angola take an early lead with Jairo scoring in the sixth minute. Panda followed with two quick goals in the 13th and 19th minutes, and Basto further solidified the lead with goals in the 38th and 86th minutes, ensuring a commanding 4-0 lead by half-time. The win places Angola second in Group B with six points, having scored nine goals and conceded two, resulting in a plus-seven goal difference, which ties them with Mozambique, the second-placed team in Group A. Tournament regulations dictate that the best overall second-placed team across the three groups moves to the semi-finals along with group winners Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia. With both Angola and Mozambique equal on points, goa l difference, and goals scored, the decision falls to fair play points. Mozambique currently has the upper hand with two points from two yellow cards, while Angola has four points from four yellow cards. Mozambique's fate in the tournament hinges on the outcome of the Group C match between Malawi and the Comoros Islands later on Tuesday. Malawi, with three points and a plus-one goal difference, would need a substantial win to surpass Mozambique's goal difference and potentially alter the standings. The finalists in the Cosafa Cup will earn a spot in the 2027 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.