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BRAVE U-20S: SO NEAR YET SO FAR

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(In Lusaka, Zambia)


LUSAKA - So near yet so far.  That’s the story of the National Under-20 squad which won some hearts in the 2019 Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Under-20 Youth Championships here this year but bowed out of the tournament when yesterday’s results ensured defending champions South Africa and Madagascar joined host Zambia and Angola in the semi finals.


With six points after winning two games against Mozambique and Seychelles 2-0 respectively only to lose 4-1 to Angola on Monday, Dominic Kunene’s gallant battalions had to wait agonisingly for yesterday’s results to know their fate.


It wasn’t to be as South Africa beat a listless Lesotho 4-0 and Madagascar beat Mauritius 2-1 to both advance to the semis from Group B.
Madagascar qualified as best runners-up on seven points throwing the local side under the bus as it were.


Delighted


Kunene was still delighted with his side’s showing in the tournament in spite of another group stage exit.
Before the country’s youngsters beat Mozambique by 2-0 in the 2019 opener last Thursday, Eswatini had last won a game in the tournament with a similar score over Botswana’s Young Zebras in 2016, banishing then a winless streak which had stretched for a traumatic 11 years – from 2004 to 2015.
“There are a lot of positives we can take from this.


“I am happy with the boys’ performance, playing two games within a short period of time affected us”, Kunene said.
The COSAFA Competitions Committee was due to meet last night to decide on a new draw for the semis after two teams (South Africa and Madagascar) qualified from one group.


It was confirmed that South Africa will play against Madagascar while Zambia will play against Angola in the semis.
The local Under-20 squad is expected back home tonight.

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