……A debut goal for Xiomara Mapepa, lack of creativity and poor officiating characterised Green Buffaloes Women’s Football Club opening match at the regional showpiece.
Green Buffaloes Women’s Football Club played out to a 1-1 draw in their opening match of the 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League| COSAFA Qualifiers.
The Zambian Champions came from a goal down to fight for a draw against Double Action Ladies of Botswana.
The Botswana side took the lead just after just 43 seconds, Lesego Radiakanyo with a well headed goal, Buffaloes’ defence was ball watching.
After the goal, Buffaloes took charge of the game but could not create any meaningful chance.
Aisha Mbwana was called into action in the 40th minute after Double Action breached the Buffaloes Defence.
At the start of the second half Coach Carol Kanyemba Daka made changes introducing Xiomara Mapepa and Natasha Nanyangwe for Joana Benaya and Maweta Chilenga.
Mapepa who was making her debut for the Zambia army sponsored outfit needed just five minutes to score as she hit the back of the net from inside the box after the Double Action Ladies defence failed to deal with the ball.
Green Buffaloes tried to push for a winner but could not create clear cut chances again failing to utilise their big possession in the final third.
Referee Maria Rivet denied the Zambian two clear penalties first a Double Action Ladies defender handled in the box and then Salome Phiri was hacked in the box but she waved both of them away.
1-1, the match finished.
MATCHDAY| 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League| COSAFA Qualifiers
Full Time | Our first match ends in a draw
Green Buffaloes 1-1 Double Action Ladies
(Xiomara Mapepa 50’| Lesego Radiakanyo 1′)
Buffaloes will next clash with Ntopwa FC on Friday, 1st September before concluding their group matches on Monday, 4th of September against Lesotho Defense Force, all their matches will take place at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
The semi-finals will take place on the 6th with the final and the third and fourth will take place two days later.
Only the club that wins this year’s qualifier will advance to the continental competition, which is scheduled to be held in the Ivory Coast from November 5-19.
Green Buffaloes Women’s Football Club Starting XI vs. Double Action: 18. Aisha Mbwana 🧤, 6. Martha K Banda, 17. Loveness Malunga (Diana Banda 73′), 3. Lushomo Mweemba 4. Memory Nthala, 13. Judith Zulu, 22. Comfort Selemani (Salome Phiri 73′) , 16.Joana Benaya © (Natasha Nanyangwe 46′) , 9. Maylan Mulenga (Agnes Phiri 86′) , 19. Eneless Phiri, 10. Maweta Chilenga (Xiomara Mapepa 46′).
Unused Substitutes: GK. Ngambo Musole, 3. Esther Banda, 4. Lubasi Pumulo, Margaret Chisenga, 8. Namute Chileshe.
