Zambia have been crowned 2024 COSAFA Women’s Championship winners after they edged hosts South Africa 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw in the final in Gqeberha on Saturday, earning the Copper Queens their second title.
Zambia’s previous success came in 2022, while South Africa were hoping to lift the trophy for the first time since 2020.
Zambia were all over South Africa in the opening minutes of the first half, keeping
the ball in the hosts’ half. However, they could not create clear scoring chances with their early possession.
The Copper Queens got a clear shot when they won a set-piece in the 12th minute,however Pauline Zulu sent her effort over the bar.
Banyana missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock in the 41st minute when they won a corner. Tshegofatso Motlogelwa took the set-piece and when the Zambian keeper spilled it, Asanda Hadebe couldn’t capitalise on the second ball to score.
The start of the second half belonged to Banyana with Isabella Ludwig shooting from range and missing the target by an inch.
In the 53rd minute Nobahle Mdelwa banged the ball into the net, however VAR ruled out the goal. Lungowe Namasiku came one-on-one with home keeper Jessica Williams but the latter made an important block to deny her. .
A bad clearance by Zambia defense saw Shannon Macomo also try her luck at goal only to shoot wide.
Banyana missed yet another golden chance to score in the 78th minute, after Hadebe set-up Mdelwa, who missed the target.
The game went into extra-time but neither team could find a winner.
Ludwig won the Player of the Tournament, while the Zambian duo of Ochumba Lubanji and Fridah Mukoma claimed the Golden Boot after they scored four goals each.
Williams claimed the Golden Glove, while Zambia took the Fair Play award.
SATURDAY’S RESULT
Final
Zambia 0 South Africa 0
After extra-time; Zambia won 4-3 on penalties
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 21
Goals scored: 75
Biggest victory: Malawi 9 Mauritius 0 (Group B, October 28)
Most goals in a game: 9 – Malawi 9 Mauritius 0 (Group B, October 28), South Africa
8 Seychelles 1 (Group A, October 28),
GOALSCORERS
4 goals – Ochumba Lubanji (Zambia), Fridah Mukoma (Zambia)
3 – Leticia Chinyamula (Malawi), Zenatha Coleman (Namibia), Kesha Hendricks
(South Africa), Yaone Modise (Botswana), Tshegofatso Motlogelwa (South Africa),
Tenanile Ngcamphalala (Eswatini), Sabinah Thom (Malawi), Fiola Vliete (Namibia)
2 – Regina Chanda (Zambia), Ethel Chinyerere (Zimbabwe), Ivone Kooper (Namibia),
Sinamile Mkhwanazi (South Africa), Ayesha Moosa (South Africa), Celiwe Nkambule
(Eswatini), Marie Sarah Rasoanandrasana (Madagascar), Asimenye Simwaka
(Malawi)
1 – Haloua Ahamada (Comoros), Nasrati Ali (Comoros), Twelikondjele Amukoto
(Namibia), Alicia Chanfi (Comoros), Faith Chinzimu (Malawi), Cidalia Cuta
(Mozambique), Keitumetse Dithebe (Botswana), Julie Gopal (Mauritius), Catherine
Kachala (Malawi), Christabel Katona (Zimbabwe), Maureen Kenneth (Malawi)
Well done to the girls. We salute each one of you and the coaching staff.
The display by the Zambia women’s team was very poor to say the least. They would have won that game in the first half had they been serious. It’s either it’s a coaching problem or the strikers and mid fielders are too selfish. The coaches should teach the girls passing game. The players should also be passing to each other to make scoring easier! Ochumba Oseke, Friday Mukoma, Namasiku, Katongo, Pauline Zulu etc all wanted to score and make a name. And because of that South Africa played better after making changes in the second half, and almost scored 2 goals as they were passing to each other. So coaches have to emphasize to the players that football is team work, not individuals to make names by scoring!