South Africa Under-20 side Amajita have retained the Cosafa Championship crown after edging out arch-rivals Zimbabwe 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in this year’s final at Nkana Stadium in Zambia.
Goalkeeper Khulekani Kubheka saved two spot-kicks in the shoot-out to take his side to victory after earlier being at fault for Zimbabwe’s goal which was easily netted by Delic Murimba.
Lyle Foster from Orlando Pirates leveled the score ten minutes from time, leaving him as a joint top scorer for the tournament with five goals.
For Young Warriors, it was a cruel end to their fairytale run as the makeshift Zimbabwe side defied the odds, winning all matches to get to the final but they fell just short at the last hurdle.
South Africa saw a lot of the ball in the early stages with Nkosingiphile Ngcobo going close two efforts early on.
Thabiso Monyane had an excellent chance to give Aamajita the lead just before the half-hour mark‚ showing his immense strength to burst through the Zimbabwe defenders‚ but clipping the ball side of the post.
Amajita were punished for not converting their dominance into goals as Zimbabwe broke the deadlock after 64 minutes through Delic Murimba.
South Africa thought they had equalized in the 70th minute when a Promise Mkhuma pass put Monyane through on goal but his left-footed shot bounced back off.
Coach Thabo Senong threw on Lyle Foster a few minutes later and he rejuvenated Amajita’s midfield, driving them forward with purpose against a tiring Zimbabwe side.
Kubheka tested the Zimbabwean goalie with a 35 yard shot at the 73rd minute, but the keeper was behind it all the way.
Amajita were dominating possession and their efforts paid off ten minutes from time when Mkhuma put Kubheka through and his cutback was drilled home by in-form Orlando Pirates striker Lyle Foster to make it 1-1.
Neither side could find a winning goal in the closing stages, which forced the game into a penalty shoot-out, where Amajita held their nerve to triumph 4-3 in the shoot-out, with Khubeka saving two spot-kicks.
Amajita’s next assignment will be the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Niger from February 2-17.
Niger, Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Mali, and South Africa are in the competition that serves as a qualifier for the U20 2019 FIFA World Cup in Poland.
