Hosts Mozambique booked the final semi-final berth at the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier on Wednesday, edging Angola on Fair Play points to claim the best runner-up spot in a tournament that delivered drama across all four groups.

Mozambique squeeze through on Fair Play

Mozambique and Angola ended the group stage locked together on six points, each having scored nine goals and conceded two. With every other tiebreaker exhausted, Mozambique's superior Fair Play record proved the decisive factor, sending them through to Friday's semi-finals.

Angola had done everything they could to force the issue with a 5-0 demolition of Lesotho. Jairo Muanha opened the scoring in the 6th minute, Luís Panda doubled the advantage seven minutes later, and Panda completed his brace from the penalty spot in the 19th minute. Romano Domingos added a fourth before halftime and wrapped up the scoring in the 86th minute. It was a brilliant display — but it wasn't enough.

South Africa and Zambia complete perfect campaigns

Defending champions South Africa, known as Amajita, topped Group B with a 2-0 win over Eswatini. Manelisi Mazibuko struck in the 25th minute before Milimo Nalumango doubled the lead nine minutes later. South Africa now head into the semi-finals having scored seven goals and conceded none across three matches.

Zambia, who had already sealed top spot in Group C before Wednesday's fixtures, rounded off a flawless group stage with a 3-1 victory over Botswana. Daniel Silubonde put the Junior Chipolopolo ahead in the 9th minute, but Kent Murandu equalised for Botswana two minutes into the second half. Silubonde restored the lead in the 64th minute before John Foloko sealed the win in stoppage time. Zambia finish with nine points, eight goals scored, and just one conceded.

Malawi stage late comeback, but miss out

In the other Group C fixture, Malawi produced a stunning finish to beat Comoros 2-1, though it ultimately came too late to claim the best runner-up spot. Ziyad Moussa had given Comoros the lead in the 23rd minute and the East African side looked destined to end without a victory — until stoppage time changed everything. An own goal from goalkeeper Fayyad Issilamou-Hamza in the 90+3' levelled matters, and Austin Yasini completed the turnaround in the 90+6' to hand Malawi the win. Despite finishing on six points with a +2 goal difference, Malawi fell short of Mozambique's Fair Play tally.

Semi-final fixtures confirmed

All four semi-finals will be played at ABB Stadium 2 on Friday. South Africa face Zambia in the opening tie at 12h00 CAT (10h00 GMT), a meeting between the only two sides to win all three of their group matches. Namibia then take on Mozambique at 18h00 CAT (16h00 GMT) — a rematch of their Group A encounter, which Namibia won 1-0 on their way to a perfect nine points.

Mozambique will look to Alírio Cuna, the tournament's leading scorer with five goals — including a hat-trick in Tuesday's 5-0 rout of Mauritius — to inspire another upset. The two winners on Friday will meet in Sunday's final and secure qualification for the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2027.

Wednesday's results

South Africa 2–0 Eswatini (Mazibuko 25', Nalumango 34') | Lesotho 0–5 Angola (Muanha 6', Panda 13', 19' pen, Domingos 37', 86') | Zambia 3–1 Botswana (Silubonde 9', 64', Foloko 90+1'; Murandu 47') | Malawi 2–1 Comoros (Issilamou-Hamza 90+3' og, Yasini 90+6'; Moussa 23')