The COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championships returns after a year’s break with the latest tournament to be staged in Lesotho from December 3-14, 2013. We thought we would have some fun and pick out some key numbers from the history of the regional showpiece junior competition. 0 – The only final to finish goalless was in 2001 when Zambia needed a penalty shoot-out to beat Angola 5-3 on spot-kicks. That remains the only final to go to a shoot-out. 2 – The number of host cities at the COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championships – Mafeteng and Maseru. 3 – Angola lost three finals in a row between 2000 and 2002. They made the deciding match in 2011 but lost again. They have yet to win the regional title. 4 – The number of first round groups at this year’s COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championships – two with four teams and two with three countries. 9 – The most number of goals scored in a single final – South Africa defeated Zambia 5-4 in 2004! 9 – South Africa beat Namibia 9-0 in the group stages of the 2009 tournament. Thulane Ngcepe scored a hat-trick that day. 10 – The number of titles won by Zambia, the most successful nation in the history of the COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championships. 11 – The number of years in a row that South Africa hosted the event between 1999 and 2009. 14 – The number of teams who will compete in this year’s COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championships in Lesotho, including East African guests Kenya. 24 – The number of matches that will be played at this year’s COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championships. 1983 – The first time a regional competition was staged for junior teams. It was won by Zambia. 2000 – The first time a nation other than Zambia or Zimbabwe lifted the trophy – South Africa claimed the prize in 2000. 2005 – Madagascar became just the fourth country to lift the trophy after Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 15:08:54 +0000
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