Copper Princesses make it four wins in four games ahead of the final clash against Tanzania

By Aaron Mubanga Jnr | November 13, 2020

The Zambia U-17 Women’s national team outclassed Zimbabwe 5-2 to maintain their 100 % winning record at the ongoing 2020 COSAFA U-17 Women’s Championship on Thursday afternoon.

Having already qualified for Saturday’s final, Coach Kaluba Kangwa was expected to make a lot of changes for the formality match against Zimbabwe but he only made one change as he gave Bupe Banda her first start of the tournament resting Comfort Selemani.

As expected Zambia started strong first with Tisilile Lungu Lungu turning two defenders in and out leaving them for dead before slotting home in the 12th minute. Margaret Taonga Chulu increased the lead a minute later after doing well to chest down Judith Soko’s cross before going round a defender before scoring from close range.

Tionge ‘Didi’ Sambo made it 3-0 at the death of the first following a beautiful run from midfield before slotting home from close range.

In the second half, Zimbabwe nearly forced a comeback as Rudo Machadu netted from a corner kick thanks to poor positioning by Chitete Munsaka before 13-year-old Ropafadzo Maferefa could head home seconds later.

Zambia however quickly took over proceedings again as Tisilile Lungu scored in the 78th minute and the 85th to complete her hat-trick and make it five goals in the tournament overall.

Elsewhere South Africa thrashed the tournament’s whipping girls, Comoros Islands 9-0 to ensure they finish the tournament in third place.

The Copper Princesses will meet Tanzania a team they beat 2-1 in their second match of the tournament to decide who wins the 6th edition of the COSAFA U-17 Women’s Championship.

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

South Africa 9 (Wade 24’pen, 37′, Mpehle 38′, Galant 44′, 50′, Taiwe 54’pen, 83′, Leask 56′, 90′) Comoros 0

Zambia 5 (Lungu 12′, 78’, 85’, Chulu 13′, Sambo 45′) Zimbabwe 2 (Machadu 58′, Maferefa 59’)