Zambia ended a 20-year search when they lifted their maiden Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship title after winning 1-0 in extra-time against a resilient young Banyana Banyana team.
The final of the 2022 edition of the tournament took place at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Gqeberha on Sunday (11 September).
Played in windy conditions that denied both sides free-flowing football, Zambia striker Barbra Banda scored her 10th goal of the tournament in the second half of extra-time to hand her nation the previously elusive title as they continue with their rich vein of form which saw them finish in third place in the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations as well as clinching a 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup spot in the process.
Grabbing second place was also sweet victory for the hosts, who were using a fairly young squad under the tutelage of South African U17 Women’s National Team coach Simphiwe Dludlu, as the regular Banyana Banyana players faced Brazil in an international friendly match.
In the third-place play-off played earlier in the day, 2021 champions Tanzania walked away with a bronze medal after defeating Namibia 2-1.
Christer Bahera had put the Tanzanians in the lead before Namibia levelled matters in the 20th minute through an own goal by defender Aisha Mnunka.
When the match looked it was heading for the dreaded penalty shootout, Nambia’s captain Emma Naris deflected the ball into her own net – the second own goal of the game with only two minutes left on the clock, handing the East Africans a 2-1 victory.
The fourth place finish is Namibia best finish in the competition since 2006 where they bagged a silver.
Banda was named the Player of the Tournament and also claimed the Top Goal Scorer Award.
Her compatriot Catherine Musonda scooped the Goalkeeper of the Tournament Award, while Tanzania took the Fair Play Award
SUNDAY’S RESULTS:
Third-place Play-Off
Tanzania 2(Bahera 12′, Naris 88’og) Namibia 1(Mhunka 20’og)
Final
Zambia 1 (B. Banda 109’)South Africa 0 –after extra-time
STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| South Africa (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Mozambique | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Angola | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Mauritius | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | -12 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Zambia (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 9 |
| Namibia (Q) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Lesotho | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 3 |
| Eswatini | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 10 | -9 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Tanzania (Q) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Botswana | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Malawi | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Comoros | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | -15 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 22
Goals scored:70
Biggest victory: Zambia 7 Lesotho 0 (Group B, September 4)
Most goals in a game: 7 – Zambia 7 Lesotho 0 (Group B, September 4)
GOALSCORERS
10 goals – Barbra Banda (Zambia)
5 – Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse (Botswana)
4 – Lithemba Sam-Sam (South Africa)
3 – Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi), Boitumelo Rabale (Lesotho)
2 –Zenatha Coleman (Namibia), Cidalia Cuta (Mozambique), Ivone Kooper (Namibia) Enekia Lunyamila (Tanzania), Sara Luvunga (Angola), Refilwe Maseko (South Africa), Donisia Minja (Tanzania), Wezzie Mvula (Malawi), Memory Ngonda (Namibia), Sphumelele Shamase (South Africa)
1 – Christer Bahera (Tanzania), Fazila Chembekezo (Malawi), Teresa Evaristo (Angola), Deolinda Gove (Mozambique), Rose Kadzere (Malawi), Veweziwa Kotjipati (Namibia), Evarine Katongo (Zambia), Isobel Jorge (Mozambique), Cristina Makua (Angola), Cina Manuel (Mozambique), Siomala Mapepa (Zambia), Tshegofatso Mosotho (Botswana), Diana Msewa (Tanzania), Sisanda Ndzinisa (Eswatini), Eneless Phiri (Zambia), Lesego Radiakanyo (Botswana), Michelle Sampson (South Africa), Asimenye Simwaka (Malawi), Lonica Tsanwane (Mozambique), Opa Tukumbuke (Tanzania), Misozi Zulu (Zambia)
Own goal – Elsa Dadard (Mauritius), Aisha Mnunka (Tanzania), Lushomo Mweemba (Zambia), Emma Naris (Namibia)
By Matlhomola Morake
