Namibia suffered a 2-1 defeat to Eswatini, while South Africa beat 10-man Botswana 2-1 to leave Group A of the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup very much alive going into the final round of games on Tuesday.
South Africa head the group with four points and will meet Eswatini next. The latter have three points, the same number as Botswana. Namibia have one.
Only the top team in each pool qualifies automatically for the semifinals along with the best-placed runner-up, so there is little margin for error.
Six-time champions South Africa looked in trouble when they went a goal behind just past the hour mark. A long ball over the top was latched on to by Thatayaone Kgamanyane as the ball was allowed to bounce, and he had the simple task of side-footing past a stranded Jethren Barr in the Bafana Bafana goal.
But the home side hit back straight away in a double blow for Botswana. Tebogo Kopelang was adjudged to have brought down Victor Letsoalo in the box and not only were the home side awarded a penalty, but the defender received a red card. Iqraam Rayners made no mistake from the penalty-spot.
Bafana then took the lead with a third goal in five mad minutes as the ball fell to Shaune Mogaila on the right-hand side of the box and his low strike beat Lesenya Malapela in the Zebras goal at his near post.
Namibia took the lead in their clash with Eswatini as Absalom Iimbondi netted on 34 minutes. But two goals in the space of three second half minutes from Eswatini turned the game on its head just before halftime.
Sifiso Matse equalised and then almost immediately Bongwa Matsebula had them in front and they managed to hold on for the win.
Defending champions Zambia need a win when they take in Comoros in their second Group B clash on Sunday that kicks off at 15h00 CAT.
Zambia lost 1-0 to Malawi in their opener, while Comoros defeated Seychelles 3-0 in their first match to record their biggest ever win in Cosafa Cup matches.
Comoros can now put Zambia effectively out of the competition with another win, though Chipolopolo will be desperate to bounce back as they chase a record seventh regional title.
In the second match of the day, Malawi will look for back-to-back wins when they face Seychelles (kick-off 18h00 CAT), who have now been victorious once in their last 32 Cosafa Cup games.
Seychelles will want to make life difficult for their pool rivals, but Malawi looked full of attacking flair in their win over Zambia. – cosafa.com
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