Green Buffaloes Women’s Football Club defender Margaret Gondwe headlines the Zambia U-20 squad summoned for the 2025 COSAFA U20 Women’s Championship.
This year’s Tournament will be held as part of the Region 5 Games in Windhoek, Namibia from 4–13 July 2025.
The Young Copper will be led by Nchanga Rangers Queens head coach Charity Nthala in the absence of head coach Florence Mwila, who will be away attending the final phase of her CAF A Coaching License course in Liberia.
Nthala has summoned a mixture of COSAFA U17 winning players, those who graduated before the tournament and some of the players from the team that won the tournament last year.
COSAFA U17 Girls Championship winners summoned include Bukata Kakumbi, Mary Nyangu, Esther Ngabwe, Gift Chisha Mazimba, Febby Chewe, Taonga Mubanga, Hellen Musozi Banda, Natasha Kasema, Ruth Mukoma, Grace Phiri and the amazing Faith Kaunda.
Last year’s top goalscorer Ruth Muwowo, player of the tournament Saliya Mwanza and the impressive Gondwe are also part of the team alongside Nana Malanda, Tricia Mabamba and Gift Kalwizhi.
The Young Copper Queens have been placed in Group B alongside South Africa, Eswatini, and Angola, forming one of two pools in the competition.
Group A includes hosts Namibia, Mozambique, and Botswana, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals.
PROVISIONAL 30-MEMBER SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Mary Nyangu (YASA Queens), Margaret Phiri (Elite Ladies), Harriet Tembo (Misisi Queens Academy), Bukata Kakumbi (Police Doves Queens)
DEFENDERS
Nana Malanda, Margaret Gondwe (both Green Buffaloes), Lweendo Hanongo (Driven Queens), Saliya Mwanza, Esther Ngabwe, Gift Chisha Mazimba (all Elite Ladies), Faith Kaunda (Zedpro Academy), Febby Chewe (Bwacha Pirates)
Midfielders
Taonga Mubanga, Eunice Bwalya (both YASA Queens), Hellen Misozi Banda (Play It Forward), Natasha Kasema (ZISD Women), Blessings Zangose Zulu (Pataaki), Judith Phiri (Muza Queens), Mary Mukupa (Red Arrows), Tricia Mabamba, Brenda Mwewa (both Nchanga Queens), Ireen Mweemba (Marvelous Girls)
Strikers
Ruth Mukoma (Zesco Ndola Girls), Grace Phiri (Play It Forward), Masela Sekeseke (Red Arrows), Namute Bwalya Chileshe, Victoria Mbali (both Green Buffaloes), Mwaziona Sakala (Chipata Girls), Ruth Muwowo (Amazing Grace), Gift Chilwizhi (Kamfinsa Blue Eagles Queens)
