South Africa U-20 team wins COSAFA Cup for third straight time — TimesLIVE

South Africa’s under-20 football team defeated tournament hosts Mozambique 2:1 in the COSAFA U-20 Cup final at ABB Stadium in Maputo. The team, known as Amajita, won the trophy for the third consecutive time.

Goals in the final

According to TimesLIVE, Oarabile Booysen opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a shot from outside the penalty area. Just a minute later, Martinho Comesar equalised by scoring into an empty net after a misunderstanding between South Africa goalkeeper Takalani Majamba and the defence.

Stephen Mendes scored the winning goal in the 58th minute from the penalty spot. The penalty was awarded after Mozambique goalkeeper Denilson Tembe fouled Emil Witbooi. It was Mendes’s sixth goal of the tournament.

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Road to the title

In stoppage time, Mozambique were reduced to 10 men after Milton Macombe committed a dangerous foul on Mendes. Despite the hosts’ attempts to equalise, the South African team held on to its lead.

South Africa completed the tournament unbeaten and conceded only three goals: two in the semifinal against Zambia and one in the decisive match against Mozambique. In the semifinal, Amajita came from behind to beat Zambia, while Mozambique reached the final after defeating Namibia.

Reaching the final secured South Africa a place at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place in Ghana next year. South Africa also won the COSAFA U-20 Cup in 2024 and 2025.