Lishoeshoe exit COSAFA tourney
SEBONGILE MATHE
MASERU – Lesotho’s hopes of advancing at the COSAFA Girls Under-17 Championships were dashed on Wednesday after suffering a humiliating 12-2 defeat in the hands of Zimbabwe.
A terrifying first half saw Lishoeshoe trailing 6-0 at the break, a deficit they were unable to overcome despite scoring two second-half goals. Zimbabwe’s superior firepower proved too much, ultimately extinguishing Lesotho’s hopes in the tournament.
Lesotho had secured a surprising 1-0 victory over Botswana in their opening match, while Zimbabwe suffered a 3-0 defeat to the same opponent. A draw or a win against Zimbabwe would have sailed the Lesotho team into the semi-finals, but their hopes were ultimately dashed by the heavy defeat.
Lishoeshoe’s coach, Tjamela Tjamela, reflected on his team’s opening match against Botswana, emphasizing the importance of reaching the next stage to maintain hope. He highlighted the team’s desire to build on the foundation established by previous generations, referencing their finals appearance last year.
While the intention was to score multiple goals, Tjamela noted that the players lacked clinical decision-making, particularly in the final third.
He pointed out that despite scoring opportunities, the conversation rate was disappointingly low.
Tjamela also expressed dissatisfaction with the narrow 1-0 victory over Botswana, stating that Lesotho is a team that thrives on scoring goals and aims for decisive wins.
The attacking philosophy, he explained, was geared towards accumulating goals and would secure victories, a strategy that unfortunately proved insufficient against superior firepower.
Hosted in Namibia from May 10 to 17, the 2025 COSAFA U-17 Girls’ Championship features nine teams divided into three groups, with group winners and the best runner-up advancing to the semi-finals. Lesotho’s win places them atop Group C.
The tournament serves as a critical platform for regional talent development, with players born on or after January 1, 2009, eligible to compete.
Scouts from top African clubs and collegiate programmes in the United States of America and Europe are closely monitoring standout performers whose performances could pave the way for professional opportunities.
COSAFA’s investment in youth tournaments has redefined women’s football in Southern Africa. Since its 2019 inception, the U-17 Championship has unearthed stars such as Zambia’s Mercy Chipasula, the 2024 Golden Boot winner, and South Africa’s Jessica Wade.
In group C, Zimbabwe secured the sole qualifying spot, while in group B, Zambia and Mozambique progressed. Malawi emerged as the qualifiers from group A.
