Title-holders Zimbabwe defeated Malawi on penalties in Zambia on Saturday after a 1-1 draw to reach the Cosafa Cup semi-finals.
Devon Chafa, Eric Chipeta and Ocean Mushure scored to give Zimbawe a 3-1 shootout victory as only Chiukepo Msowoya netted for Malawi.
Record four-time champions Zimbabwe now face the winners of the quarter-final in Kitwe on Sunday between Angola and Lesotho.
Zimbabwe dominated the opening half at sunny Nkoloma Sadium in capital city Lusaka and nudged ahead after 14 minutes.
Malawi goalkeper Simplex Nthala parried a Tendai Ndoro header off a free kick to Masimba Mambare, who stabbed the ball into the net.
Crisp, short passing enabled the defending champions to control play and Malawi were reduced to 10 men just before half-time.
Veteran defender James Sangala was shown a second yellow card on 44 minutes followed by a red to leave his side with a uphill task.
But Malawi fared better a man short and after a few lucky escapes, snatched an equaliser three minutes from time.
Zimbabwe goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupangedengu tried to tip over a long shot from Moses Chavula, but the ball slipped off his glove into the net.
There was no extra-time and Zimbabwe took control of the shootout once teenager Bongani Kaipa blazed the first Malawi kick over the bar.
A severely depleted South African team confront bogey side Namibia later Saturday at the same venue in the second quarter-final.
Zimbabwe pip Malawi to reach Cosafa Cup quarters
