Lesotho defeated Malawi 3-0 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regular time to reach the final of thr2023 Cosafa Cup at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban,

With the win, Likuena qualified to the regional championship final, where they will now play either Zambia on Sunday.

However, Malawi’s hopes of winning the competition diminished, and they will now participate in Sunday’s third-place playoff game.

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Likuena got out to a strong start, led by the energetic Neo Mokhachane, who also assisted Jane Thabantso’s goal for Lesotho in the 18th minute.

In response, the Flames applied pressure to the Likuena defence, which led to the awarding of a penalty in the 25th minute. Chawanangwa converted it to make it 1-1, scoring twice in as many games.

After Motlomelo Mkhwanazi received his second yellow card of the game and was dismissed, Lesotho was therefore down to 10 players with the score still tied at 1 at the break.

The game finished in a 1-1 draw in regulation time, and a penalty shootout followed, despite Likuena having a numerical disadvantage. The Flames were awful in the final third in the second half.

Sekhoane Moerane, a 25-year-old custodian, was the shootout’s hero after saving three penalty kicks to lead Lesotho to a 3-0 triumph.