COSAFA U20: Hippos crush out on penalties

Hippos coach Matia Lule

COSAFA U20 Championships
Results
Semifinals
South Africa 1 Egypt 0
Lesotho 0 Uganda 0 (6-5)
Final
Saturday
South Africa v Egypt

The loss on penalties 6-5 to Lesotho Thursday in Zambia spelled the end of the line for the Hippos in the COSAFA U20 Championships at Nkana Stadium.

A slender lead but enough to crush Uganda's hearts after the teams played out a goalless game in normal time.

The fancied Hippos literally controlled the game with a number of deadly attacks; Pius Obuya's header was denied by the wood work in the second half.

The game marked the return of on form striker, Shaban Muhammad, his relentlessness and direct approach kept the Lesotho defenders on their toes in spite of failing to find the back of the net on a rainy evening in Kitwe.

Muhammad will nonetheless take delight in his three goals he has scored in the tournament but then will rue the day he was sent off in the 2-2 stalemate against Swaziland Friday.

Mujahid Ogama missed Uganda's sixth penalty, prompting wild celebrations from Lesotho who went through to the final.

This was the only post-match shoot out of the in the tournament which technically attracts teams from Southern Africa.

Uganda and Egypt only featured as guests and their performances have been quite satisfactory in spite of their journeys ending at the semifinals.

In the first semifinal South Africa cruised past Egypt courtesy of Luvuyo Mkatshana's effort in the first half.