Mozambique and Comoros have booked their places in the semi-finals of the COSAFA Cup 2024 following the completion of the final matches in Groups A and B on Tuesday.

The Mambas head Group A following a 3-1 win over 10-man Botswana, edging out hosts South Africa on goal difference to take top honours. Bafana Bafana cannot finish among the best second-placed sides so will leave the tournament.Goals from Momed Ferreira, Dario Melo and Edmundo Candido sealed the win for Mozambique, after Tebogo Kopelang had put Botswana in front.

But a red card for Olebogeng Ramotse just before halftime proved a blow to the Zebras. South Africa beat Eswatini 1-0 to at least go home on a high, Thabang Sibanyoni getting the only goal of the game after three minutes.

His only other international strike was at the same competition, at the same venue and against the same opponents in 2021.

Comoros finished top of Group B after three teams finished on six points and had to be separated on head-to-head, with Kenya in second and hoping to take the best runner-up place, while Zimbabwe and Zambia are eliminated.

Comoros defeated Zambia 1-0 thanks to a goal from Ibroihim Youssouf to extend his record as the islanders’ all-time leading scorer in the COSAFA Cup with four goals.

It is the first time in their history that Zambia have lost three games in a row in the regional competition having come into this year’s event as the record seven-time holders and winners of the previous two editions.