Defending champions Angola got their Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup campaign off to a steady start with a 1-1 draw with Namibia in their Group B clash at the Toyota Stadium in Mangaung, Bloemfontein, on Thursday.

Last year’s Golden Boot recipient Depu netted what he thought would be the winner from the penalty-spot on 90 minutes after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) confirmed the award of the spot-kick for a foul late in the game.

Depu is now Angola’s all-time leading scorer in the Cosafa Cup with six goals.

But Namibia would not be denied a point and Ivan Kamberipa rose high to head into the back of the net seven minutes into injury-time at the end of the game to rescue a point for his side.

Namibia equalise in stoppage time to snatch a point 🇦🇴🇳🇦#SSDiski | #CosafaCup2025 pic.twitter.com/Ulu8cw9udm

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 5, 2025

The draw may be a good point for Palancas Negras in the end after they were reduced to 10 men following a red card for Randy Nteka just past the hour-mark.

It was another decision confirmed by the VAR.

It is the latest battle between these two sides after they played to a 0-0 draw in their opening pool game last year, before Angola beat Namibia 5-0 in last year’s decider.

GREAT START FOR LESOTHO

Lesotho got their campaign off to a fantastic start with a 1-0 victory over Malawi.

It was a tight contest between the teams with few chances at either end, but the winning goal came seven minutes from the end with a fine finish.

Makara Ntaitsane latched onto a flicked-on long ball and took a touch before firing the ball into the roof of the net.

There was a VAR check for offside, but the goal was awarded, sparking jubilant scenes on the Lesotho bench.

Lesotho's late goal earns them all three points against Malawi 🇱🇸⚽#SSDiski | #CosafaCup2025 pic.twitter.com/DkQ2WKC24b

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 5, 2025

Malawi and Lesotho have been involved in six matches with Lesotho now leading the head-to-head record 3-2.

There is just a single game in the three-team Group D on Friday when Zambia tackle Comoros at 6pm CAT.

Zambia are seven-time champions of the Cosafa Cup but lost all three group games last year in a shock failure.

Comoros, on the other hand, had their best finish as they ended fourth after a first ever appearance in the semifinals.

It is the second year in a row they meet in the group stages, with Comoros claiming a 1-0 victory in 2024.

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

Group B – Toyota Stadium

Malawi 0 Lesotho 1 (Ntaitsane 83’)

Angola 1 (Depu 90’pen) Namibia 1 (Kamberipa 90’)

FRIDAY’S FIXTURES

Group D – Toyota Stadium

Zambia v Comoros (KO 18h00; 16h00 GMT)