By SAMUEL LUKHANDA  At Arthur Davies Stadium  –
South Africa 2-1 Lesotho
SOUTH Africa comfortably beat Lesotho in the 2017 Mopani Copper Mines under-20 Cosafa final to claim their seventh title yesterday in Kitwe.
Amajita coach Thabo Senong was elated after finally his team got their hands on the trophy that eluded him on three occasions he has made the trip to the finals.
His unbeaten side was heavily favoured to beat the surprise package in Lesotho who punched above their weight all the way to the finals and their coach Lesley Nots’i said his team have taken plenty of positives from this tournament.
Lyle Brent Foster’s simple finish in the fourth minute sent the favourites ahead after an enterprising run down the channel by Happy Mashiane who put it on the plate for the big forward with the Lesotho defence on holiday.
Amajita increased the lead in the 39th minute when defender Kamogelo Sambo scrambled home the second goal after a goal-mouth melee, again Lesotho were ball watching.
Lesotho were in the hole as it looked like it might get worse as they looked overwhelmed by the occasion as the first-half was drawing to a close.
Lesotho came back from the half-time with more purpose and determination and their effort paid dividends in the 58th when substitute Rethabile Mokokoane scored arguably the goal of the tournament from a free-kick.
Mokokoane left curler beat Amajita goalie Sanele Tshabalala who was caught napping from the center line to breathe life into the final that looked to have lost it.
Amajita playing in the third consecutive Cosafa final at this age group started the game like a house on fire taking it to Lesotho who played without ambition sitting back absorbing the pressure.
First choice goalkeeper Monaheng Ramalefane was hurt two minutes into the game as he was the busiest player in the match as South Africa laid serge on his goal. He was carried off two minutes later and replaced by his deputy who showed a lot of nerves and was at fault for Amajita second goal as he could not command his area.
But as the game was expiring Lesotho had a chance to restore parity in the 75th minute with Amajita keeper beaten Raboama Koloti cut back to Mokoteli Mohapi  facing a empty goal placed his shot wide to the agony of the Lesotho bench.
South Africa then shut shop and saw off the game to win the Cosafa Cup.
In the third place playoff invitation sides Egypt and Uganda faced off and the North Africans got the better of their East African counterparts in an identical 2-1 score line to grab third place.