Fridah Kabwe scored a hat-trick to lead the Zambia Women’s National Team to a 5-1 win over Comoros to seal their place in the semi-finals of the ongoing 2023 COSAFA Women’s Championship.
The Copper Queens went into the match knowing that only a win would guarantee them a place in the last four.
The technical bench made five changes to the team that beat Angola 3-1.
Jackline Nkole and Natasha Nanyangwe have been knocked out of the tournament due to injuries and were replaced by Maylan Mulenga and Judith Soko.
Leticia Lungu made way for Ng’ambo Petronella Musole, Vast Phiri started in place of Esther Banda while Fridah Kabwe made her first start of the tournament in place of Agness Phiri.
Zambia started strong dominating play and could have been 2-0 up in the first ten minutes, Evarine Susan Katongo doing some fine work to set up first Fridah Kabwe and then Sarah Jere but both missed from very close range.
Zambia were however not to be denied in the 19th minute as Fridah Kabwe struck from distance to open her goal account for the tournament and the Copper Queens.
The copper Queens continued to create chances but their finish kept letting them down.
Against the run of play, Comoros levelled matters through Mohamed Roukia two minutes to half time.
The match went to the break with the teams level at 1-1.
Whatever the technical bench said to the team in the dressing room seemed to have had the right impact as they came back a different side with more purpose.
Comoros was restricted to playing in their own half and soon the floodgates opened as Fridah Kabwe put the team back in the lead 14 minutes into the second stanza.
Lushomo Mweemba doubled the lead a minute later with a spectacular finish from range.
Kabwe then completed her hat-trick in the 75th minute with a close range finish.
Sarah Jere sealed the result with her third goal of the tournament from the penalty spot, 5-1 the match finished.
The win means Zambia finished top of group B with seven points level with Mozambique who beat Angola 1-0 but with a better goal difference.
Zambia will face either Zimbabwe or Botswana in the semi-finals while Mozambique will face Malawi.
2023 COSAFA Women’s Championship | Full-Time
Zambia 5-1 Comoros
(Fridah Kabwe 19′,59′,75′, Lushomo Mweemba 60′, Sarah Jere 87′ Pen| Mohamed Roukia 43′)
congratulations to the copper queens. we keep rallying behind you with our huge home support.
Bravo 👏👏👏 ladies… Bravo 👏👏👏 keep the spirit of winning everytime to show piece Zambia’s football ⚽⚽⚽ calendar is ever strong.
Go go goal for copper queens
Is this the Anonymous from those glory days of ZAMFOOT?
We can only wish our Ladies all the best. We are not Zambia for nothing.
We can only wish our Ladies all the best. We are not Zambia for nothing.