Staff Reporter<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NAMIBIA\u2019s unbeaten run in the COSAFA Under-20 Championship came to an end on Friday after Mozambique defeated the Young Brave Warriors 3-0 in the semi-final at ABB Stadium, ending Namibia\u2019s hopes of reaching the final and qualifying for the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Namibia entered the semi-final with three wins from three matches, having scored five goals without conceding, including a 1-0 victory over Mozambique in the group stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two sides met again in the semi-final, six years after Mozambique defeated Namibia in the 2020 COSAFA Under-20 final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mozambique took the lead after 15 minutes when Martinho Come\u00e7ar found the back of the net to put the hosts 1-0 ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Namibia, who were without Rashid Naobeb because of a two-yellow-card suspension, struggled to find a response as Mozambique increased the pressure after the break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diego Pelembe doubled Mozambique\u2019s lead in the 55th minute before Hissan S\u00f3crates added a third goal during the final 20 minutes of the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The result sent Mozambique through to their third COSAFA Under-20 final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Come\u00e7ar, who scored his first goal of the tournament, was named Player of the Match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mozambique\u2019s victory also ended Namibia\u2019s hopes of securing a place in the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, with the semi-final winners advancing to the final and earning qualification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Namibia head coach Lucky Shipanga said his team had played a tactical match but was undone by defensive and technical mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was a very good game. A very tactical game,\u201d Shipanga said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said Mozambique had identified Namibia\u2019s strengths and capitalised on mistakes that led to the goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe third goal is our own mistake,\u201d Shipanga said. \u201cThe second one you see again, and then the third one is also only a technical mistake or defensive error.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shipanga said Namibia had created four clear opportunities but failed to convert them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut for me, I showcase these young boys and what I have to be grateful for. They were a great team,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He congratulated Mozambique on their victory. Namibia will face Zambia in the third-place play-off on 27 September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mozambique will face South Africa in the final, with both nations securing qualification for the U20 AFCON 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Photos: COSAFA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Staff Reporter NAMIBIA\u2019s unbeaten run in the COSAFA Under-20 Championship came to an end on Friday after Mozambique defeated the Young Brave Warriors 3-0 in the semi-final at ABB Stadium, ending Namibia\u2019s hopes of reaching the final and qualifying for the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana. Namibia entered the semi-final with three …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":401459,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-401458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n