JOHANNESBURG,-MOZAMBIQUE, last year's losing finalists were held to a 1-1 draw by Madagascar in this tightly contested Group B Metropolitan-COSAFA under-20 encounter at Rand Stadium on Monday.
The Indian Ocean islanders scored first through Florent Namodely (29th) before Mozambique leveled terms seven minutes before regulation time when Ferinandos Manuels capitalised on Madagascar’s defensive slopy marking.
In another main encounter played at the same venue, Zambia beat Angola 2-1 to go on top of Group B. Zambia, commonly known as Chipolopolo in the football circles grabbed their two goals from Stephen Babamba (25th) and Evans Musonda (6oth) while Angola reduced the arrears through Nello in the 56th minute.
Angola and Zambia are regarded as strong contenders likely to pose some huge threats to defending champions-Amajita.
South Africa, who started their defence of the 2009 Metropolitan-COSAFA tournament with a 9-0 massacre of Namibia at Dobsonville Stadium look favourites to return the championship.
Amajita, who won this trophy a record three times are no push-overs as they will once again use home advantage to progress to the final.
Other nations that won the Metropolitan-COSAFA under-20 title include Zimbabwe and Madagascar, who clinched the championship once each.
The last match for Wednesday will be Mozambique against Swaziland
Post published in: Football