Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship Seychelles sent back to earth by Mozambique |27 September 2022
A day after collecting an important 3-2 win against hosts South Africa in the Hollywoodbets Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) Beach Soccer Championship, Seychelles were sent back to earth as they suffered a battering at the hands of defending champions Mozambique.
Playing at Durban’s South Beach Arena on day two of the competition yesterday, the Seychelles team, coached by Edmond Robert, lost their second group A match 2-12 against defending champions Mozambique who made a statement of their potential to retain the trophy.
The Mozambicans made up for their opening 4-5 loss to African champions Senegal with a superb performance as Neto and Nelson both scored hat-tricks to go with goals for Big Ro, Rachide, Figo, Mabomo, Arroz and Tomas.
Nelson, who was top-scorer in last year’s competition with six goals, is second on the scorers charts again having netted four times so far.
Hansel Coeur-de-Lion and Hoareau scored for Seychelles who are third on the table with three points.
In the other group A match, Senegal were pegged by hosts South Africa, but their class shone through in the end as they claimed an 8-3 victory.
Goalkeeper Al Seyni Ndiaye scored a brace of goals with two thunderous strikes from range, while Seydina Sene also got two. There were further scores for Souleymane Coly, Seydina Diagne, Seydina Mbaye and Mamour Diagne, who got his third of the competition.
Nduduzo Phakathi, Abongile Gcuda and Siyabonga Mkhize with South Africa’s scorers.
In today’s third and final round of games, Seychelles will meet 2015 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations winners Senegal who lead the group on maximum six points and second placed Mozambique who are also on three points will play South Africa.
In group B yesterday, Uganda and Egypt sealed their place in the semifinals as both recorded victories that ensured they would finish in the top two. Both Uganda and Egypt have six points and cannot be caught in the top two, though they now play for first position in the pool on Wednesday.
Uganda’s Sand Cranes collected a comprehensive 9-2 win over Mauritius.
Ambrose Kigozi netted a hat-trick for Uganda and tops the scorers’ charts with five goals, while Sharifu Dpuuli bagged a brace. Isma Kawawulo, Brian Nkuubi, Baker Lukooya and Joshua Lubwama also scored.
Mauritius got their goals through Jean Roseario and Louis Lal.
Egypt had to fight hard and grabbed a late win in a 4-3 success against last year’s beaten finalists Tanzania. They missed three penalties on their way to a nervous win. Goals by Moustafa Abdelmoneim, Mohamed Aly Hassan, Hassan Hussein and a winner with seconds remaining from Haitham Mahsoub sealed the vital three points for Egypt.
Jaruph Juma (two) and Goodluck Gama scored for the Tanzanians.
Compiled by Gerard Govinden