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Defending champions Angola held by Namibia, Lesotho win

rugby05 June 2025 20:00| © SuperSport
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Defending champions Angola got their Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup campaign off to a steady start with a 1-1 draw with Namibia in their Group B clash at the Toyota Stadium in Mangaung, Bloemfontein, on Thursday.

Last year’s Golden Boot recipient Depu netted what he thought would be the winner from the penalty-spot on 90 minutes after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) confirmed the award of the spot-kick for a foul late in the game.

Depu is now Angola’s all-time leading scorer in the Cosafa Cup with six goals.

But Namibia would not be denied a point and Ivan Kamberipa rose high to head into the back of the net seven minutes into injury-time at the end of the game to rescue a point for his side.

The draw may be a good point for Palancas Negras in the end after they were reduced to 10 men following a red card for Randy Nteka just past the hour-mark.

It was another decision confirmed by the VAR.

It is the latest battle between these two sides after they played to a 0-0 draw in their opening pool game last year, before Angola beat Namibia 5-0 in last year’s decider.

GREAT START FOR LESOTHO

Lesotho got their campaign off to a fantastic start with a 1-0 victory over Malawi.

It was a tight contest between the teams with few chances at either end, but the winning goal came seven minutes from the end with a fine finish.

Makara Ntaitsane latched onto a flicked-on long ball and took a touch before firing the ball into the roof of the net.

There was a VAR check for offside, but the goal was awarded, sparking jubilant scenes on the Lesotho bench.

Malawi and Lesotho have been involved in six matches with Lesotho now leading the head-to-head record 3-2.

There is just a single game in the three-team Group D on Friday when Zambia tackle Comoros at 6pm CAT.

Zambia are seven-time champions of the Cosafa Cup but lost all three group games last year in a shock failure.

Comoros, on the other hand, had their best finish as they ended fourth after a first ever appearance in the semifinals.

It is the second year in a row they meet in the group stages, with Comoros claiming a 1-0 victory in 2024.

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

Group B – Toyota Stadium

Malawi 0 Lesotho 1 (Ntaitsane 83’)

Angola 1 (Depu 90’pen) Namibia 1 (Kamberipa 90’)

FRIDAY’S FIXTURES

Group D – Toyota Stadium

Zambia v Comoros (KO 18h00; 16h00 GMT)

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