An early second-half goal from veteran midfielder John Maduka

raised hopes of a shock win for the Malawi Flames in the Group C

final before Mbesuma came to the rescue.

He created and scored the equaliser with seven minutes left at

Woodlands Stadium in the Zambian capital, releasing Clifford

Mulenga down the flank and pouncing on the cross to rifle the ball

over goalkeeper Swadick Sanudi.

And two minutes from fulltime Mbesuma mesmerised several

defenders inside the penalty area leading to a handball and he sent

Sanudi the wrong way with a penalty kick into the right corner.

Mbesuma was also on target twice in the semifinals 24 hours

earlier as Zambia romped to a 3-0 victory over Swaziland while

Malawi came from behind to triumph 2-1 against Lesotho.

Zambia join Group A winners South Africa, Group B winners

Zimbabwe and defending champions Angola in the semifinals and

final over the weekend of August 13-14 at a venue to be announced.

Angola have won the annual southern Africa championship a record

three times, Zambia and Zimbabwe twice each and regional power

South Africa once since its launch eight years ago.

Zambia dominated the first half on a warm, clear, early winter

afternoon, but with Mbesuma well policed the best chances fell to

Christopher Katongo, who squandered two in quick succession.

The loudest cheer of the opening half was reserved for Zambia

goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene, who foiled Malawi striker Daniel

Chitsulo by controlling the ball with his chest before executing a

bicycle-kick clearance.

Maduka, wooed out of retirement by coach Yasin Osman to help

develop a young Malawi squad, broke the deadlock by finding space

between two defenders and leaving Mweene flat footed with a

glancing header off a Fisher Kondowe cross.

Mweene saved another Maduka header and Malawi appeared

comfortable until the late heroics of Mbesuma, who plays for

Johannesburg club Kaizer Chiefs and was voted South Africa

Footballer of the Year last month.

Zambia coach Kalusha Bwalya watched the match from the stand

after being given an indefinite touchline ban by world football

governing body Fifa while it probes his sending off during a World

Cup qualifier in Togo last weekend.