ZESCO Ndola Girls began the new campaign with silverware after beating Green Buffaloes Women’s Football Club 2-1 to win the 2026 ZPL Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Women’s Charity Shield.
The ZPL Women’s Super League champions produced a strong first-half display to establish a two-goal lead before holding off a late Buffaloes fightback.
Elizabeth Mupeso opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a superb long-range strike, beating Buffaloes goalkeeper Aisha Gama to put the Zegalicious Girls in front.
ZESCO Ndola Girls doubled their advantage 13 minutes later when Fridah Kabwe headed home from close range after meeting a cross from Mable Bwalya.
Green Buffaloes responded by pushing forward in search of a way back into the contest.
Their best opportunity came after the half-hour mark when Evarine Susan Katongo made a determined run towards the ZESCO penalty area before sending a searching ball into the box for Ethel Chinyerere, who could not make clean contact and allowed goalkeeper Annie Namonje to gather comfortably.
ZESCO continued to threaten after the break as they searched for a third goal.
Charity Mubanga forced a save from Gama, while Mila Milambo came close when her spinning half-volley drifted narrowly wide of the Buffaloes goal.
Buffaloes eventually found a way through in the 85th minute.
Agnes Phiri delivered a cross into the ZESCO box and Chinyerere reacted quickest, beating Namonje before rounding the goalkeeper and calmly finishing into an empty net.
The goal gave Buffaloes hope of forcing their way back into the match, but ZESCO Ndola Girls held firm during the closing stages to secure the 2-1 victory.
The result sees the Zegalicious Girls add the Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield to their status as reigning ZPL Women’s Super League champions, while Green Buffaloes leave with a narrow defeat despite their late rally.
2026 ZPL Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield
ZESCO Ndola Girls 2-1 Green Buffaloes WFC
Elizabeth Mupeso 13′, Fridah Kabwe 26′ — Ethel Chinyerere 85′
