Champions Zambia got the defence of their Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup 2024 title off to a losing start after they were beaten 2-0 by East African guest nation Kenya at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Thursday.
Full-Time Score:
— COSAFA (@COSAFAMEDIA) June 27, 2024
🇿🇲 Zambia 0 🆚 2 Kenya 🇰🇪
Austine Atieno (P) 9’, Patrick Otieno 19’
The Harambe Stars dominate the match with a resounding 2-0 victory over the defending champions.#hollywoodbets #CosafaCup2024 @SABC_Sport pic.twitter.com/DEysQN8D6e
The match followed a 1-0 win for Zimbabwe in their Group B opener against Comoros and leaves record seven-time winners Zambia on the back foot already as they seek an unprecedented third title win in a row.
Only the top team in each of the three pools and the best placed runner-up advance to the semifinals this year, meaning it is all to play for and any slip-ups put teams on the back foot.
Kenya took the lead when Austine Odhiambo kept his cool from the penalty-spot to slot the ball home after eight minutes.
One became two soon afterwards as hesitant defending at the back post allowed Patrick Otieno to steal in and score as he poked the ball past Zambia goalkeeper Charles Kalumba.
The second half saw Zambia dominate possession, but they were not able to create enough in front of goal to claw their way back into the game.
Second goalscorer for Kenya 🇰🇪 Patrick Otieno gets the #COSAFACup2024 Player of the Match in the 2-0 win over Zambia. #hollywoodbets @sabcsport @fifaplus pic.twitter.com/B7mkrTrCpd
— COSAFA (@COSAFAMEDIA) June 27, 2024
ZIM VICTORIOUS
Zimbabwe picked up a victory on their return to the Cosafa Cup for the first time since 2021 as they edged Comoros 1-0 following a winning goal in the second half from Michael Tapera.
Full-Time ⚽️
— COSAFA (@COSAFAMEDIA) June 27, 2024
🇰🇲 Comoros 0 🆚 1 Zimbabwe 🇿🇼
Michael Tapera 53'
The Warriors edge the Islanders 1-0 courtesy of a Michael Tapera strike.@hollywoodbets #CosafaCup2024 @SABC_Sport pic.twitter.com/hCsf303zGY
It was a hard-fought contest in which both teams had further chances, but the Warriors managed to hold on in the end for what will be a huge boost in morale.
Full-Time ⚽️
— COSAFA (@COSAFAMEDIA) June 27, 2024
🇰🇲 Comoros 0 🆚 1 Zimbabwe 🇿🇼
Warriors captain Godknows Murwira gets the Player of the Match Award after his impressive performance in defence. @hollywoodbets #CosafaCup2024 @aQuelle pic.twitter.com/mcopEg38VF
The action continues on Friday with the opening games in Group C.
Entrance will be FREE with tickets available at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium ticket office on a first come, first served basis.
Lesotho, beaten finalists last year, will take on Seychelles with kick-off set for 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).
It will be a first ever meeting between these two nations in the Cosafa Cup, creating a little bit of history in Gqeberha.
Seychelles have never been past the group stages and that will be their aim this time round.
The later game sees Angola take on Namibia at the same venue at 6pm CAT.
Namibia will have to make their own piece of history if they are to win this one, having never defeated Angola before in the Cosafa Cup.
Palancas Negras have won two of their four previous meetings in the competition, with the other two drawn.
That incudes the 1999 final that Angola won 2-1 on aggregate when the decider was played over two legs, while the last time they met in the regional showpiece competition was all the way back in 2004.
THURSDAY’S RESULTS
Group B – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Comoros 0-1 Zimbabwe 1 (Tapera 53’)
Zambia 0-2 Kenya 2 (Odhiambo 8’pen, P. Otieno 19’)
FRIDAY’S FIXTURES
Group C – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Lesotho v Seychelles (KO 3pm CAT)
Angola v Namibia (KO 6pm CAT)
© Cosafa