ZAMBIA booted out a spirited Mozambique from the Cosafa tournament after handing them a 2-0 defeat in a semi-final clash at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday.Chipolopolo, as Zambia are affectionately known by their passionate fans scored in the first half through hard running striker Enock Sakhala before Mozambique conceded an own goal late in the second half to bow out of the regional tournament. Their defeat handed Zambia a ticket to the final of the tournament at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday in which they will face hosts Zimbabwe who also knocked out South Africa’s Bafana Bafana after beating them 3-2 on penalties in another semi-final tie on Wednesday.
But, Mozambique, who reached last year’s final before being beaten to the trophy by South Africa in Mphumalanga go out with their pride intact as they put on a brave show against their more illustrious opponents.
Zambia are seasoned campaigners in this regional tournament and have won it a record three times since its inauguaration in 1997. South Africa, Angola and hosts Zimbabwe are the other three countries that have lifted this regional tournament on three occasions.
And whoever wins the final on Sunday between Zimbabwe’s Warriors and Zambia will set a new record of being the first team to win it a record four times. Warriors coach Sunday Chidzambwa will also become the first Zimbabwean coach to lift the regional tournament twice as coach after he won the 2003 edition of the two weeks festival. The other Zimbabwean coaches who have won this tournament before are Misheck Chidzambwa (2000) and Charles Mhlauri (2005).
Post published in: Football