Hosts Zimbabwe qualified for the quarter-finals of the Cosafa Senior Challenge after an anxious wait for the result of the final game in Group A.

The Warriors beat Mauritius 3-0 in their opening game, but were then held to a 2-2 draw by Lesotho.

Lesotho faced Mauritius on Wednesday in Harare knowing that victory by a four-goal margin would put them through at Zimbabwe's expense, but they fell short with a 1-0 victory.

A large crowd of Zimbabwe fans watched the game and cheered on Mauritius, and there were huge celebrations when the final whistle blew as the Warriors advanced on goal difference.

Group B concludes on Thursday in Bulawayo with Botswana playing Seychelles and Comoros facing Swaziland.

Comoros and Botswana top the group with four points, Swaziland are on three and Seychelles are already eliminated after two defeats.

Comoros have played above expectations after a 0-0 draw with Botswana and a 2-1 defeat of Seychelles.

Swaziland, coached by former South Africa boss Ephraim "Shakes" Mashaba, made a good start by beating Seychelles 2-1, but they were then outplayed by Botswana, who won 1-0.

While the matches involving Zimbabwe have attracted good crowds, the attendance for other games was so poor that schoolchildren were allowed in for free for Wednesday's Group B matches to boost the numbers.

The region's top-ranked sides have byes to the quarter finals, with games on Sunday between Malawi and Mozambique and Namibia Zambia.

On Monday South Africa play Angola and Zimbabwe meet the winners of Group B.

The competition is used by most of the participating teams as a developmental tool, with Angola using their under-20 side and South Africa fielding an under-23 team.

By BBC