Eliminated

Malawi and Lesotho have been eliminated despite the latter winning 3-2 in a five-goal thriller in the other match in Group A.

Third-placed Lesotho lost two games against Angola and Mozambique but redeemed themselves against Malawi where they collected three points.

Having drawn two games against Angola and Mozambique, Malawi are dumped out of the competition after losing to Lesotho and have only garnered two points to finish bottom of Group A.

Both teams started the game on an equal footing but Lesotho were the first to score. Thuto Khetsi was tackled a yard away from the edge of the penalty area on the left side and he took the free kick and netted beating the goalkeeper at the near post to break the deadlock.

Malawi players took shots from afar and the notable one was from James Lumbe who hit the crossbar.

Malawi were strong in the midfield where holding midfielder Moffat Mnyontho controlled the tempo of the match and provided forward and diagonal passes to the wingers and striker on both sides.

In the midfield also, Khetsi had his own moments where he drove the ball before supplying the forwards with vertical passes.In the 26th minute, Rethabile Nqoko doubled Lesotho’s lead after outpacing defenders before beating the onrushing Malawi’s goalkeeper.

However, Malawi were determined to score and eventually reduced the deficit in the 41st minute when pacey James Lumbe drove the ball into the penalty area leaving defenders who tracked him to score against the onrushing Lesotho’s goalkeeper.