Barbra Banda was in scintillating form on Sunday afternoon as she netted five goals to guide the Zambia Women’s National team to a 5-0 win over Lesotho at the ongoing COSAFA Women’s Championship.
Coach Bruce Mwape made one change to the team that beat Namibia as Avell Chitundu made way for Misozi Zulu on the right wing.
It took a bit of time for the Copper Queens to settle but after that they took off with Barbra Banda proving a nuisance for the Lesotho defense.
Banda opened the scoring eleven minutes into the match, scoring directly from a corner kick to get the Copper Queens going.
It was Zambia all the way from then on but needed to wait nineteen minutes for a second goal as Banda scored her second from another set piece this time around a long range free kick beating Boitumelo Susan Nkeane.
Banda then turned provider in additional time of the first half as she provided a delicious cross from the corner for Evarine Susan Katongo who headed in from close range, 3-0 the match went to the break.
In the second half , Zambia only needed four nets to pick up where they left off as Barbra Banda completed her hat-trick lobbing Nkeane after being put through on goal by Ochumba Oseke Lubanji.
Banda made it 5-0 with her fourth goal just four minutes later scoring another free kick, the ball taking an awkward bounce in front of Susan Nkeane before hitting the back of the net.
Banda was not done as she made it 6-0 in the 57th minute this time around finishing off a Evarine Susan Katongo beautiful pass to make it seven goals in the tournament so far.
Coach Bruce Mwape then made four changes as he withdrew Misozi Zulu, Margaret Belemu, OChumba Oseke Lubanji, and Ireen Lungu for Natasha Nanyangwe , Esther Siamfuko, Mary Wilombe, and Natasha Witika, five minutes after the hour mark.
Two minutes later, Xiomara Mapepa got in on the action as she netted a brilliant free kick following a foul on Evarine Susan Katongo.
Mapepa thought she had scored a brace when she headed in from close range but the flag was up though wrongly so, the goal was disallowed.
Skipper Barbra was withdrawn in the 78th minute and replaced by Enelesi Phiri. The Copper Queens played the last 12 minute with ten players after Lushomo Mweemba failed to continue after she was clattered into by a Lesotho player.
7-0 the match finished, the Copper Queens will conclude their group games against Eswatini on Tuesday.
Barbra Banda was named the player of the match for a second consecutive game and also walked away with the match ball.
COSAFA Women’s Championship
Full Time
Zambia 7-0 Lesotho
(Barbra Banda 11′, 30′, 49, 53′,57′, Evarine Susan Katongo 45+2′, Xiomara Mapepa 67′ )
VaZambia ngabaliko Bose ava nivangwele!!!