Zambia clinched the bronze medal at the 2017 COSAFA Women’s Championship with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory over East African guest nation Kenya after the teams played to a 1-1 draw at the Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo on Saturday.

An even contest went to penalties and after Lucy Mukhwana and Pauline Msungu missed in the shoot-out. Zambia collected their third bronze medal after previous third-place finishes in 2002 and 2006.

Kenya took the lead through their top-scorer Neddy Okoth and held onto that advantage until Barbra Banda netted the equaliser 18 minutes from time.

The even contest then went penalties and it was Zambia who held their nerve to pick up the bronze medal.

Sunday will see the final of the competition played, when hosts and holders Zimbabwe take on South Africa at the Barbourfields Stadium.

Zimbabwe edged the South Africans 1-0 in the last final played in 2011, while before that Banyana Banyana had won each of the last three tournaments dating back to 2002.

South Africa showed remarkable resilience to reach this year’s final having trailed Zambia 3-0 with 13 minutes remaining, before roaring back to 3-3 and claiming the penalty shoot-out 5-3.

Zimbabwe had squeezed into the semifinals as the best runner-up, but dominated their semifinal against Kenya, winning 4-0.

Both Zimbabwe and South Africa qualified for last year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

SATURDAY’S RESULT
At Barbourfields Stadium
Zambia 1 (Banda 72’) Kenya 1 (Okoth 30’) – Zambia win 4-2 on penalties

 

SUNDAY’S FIXTURE
At Barbourfields Stadium
South Africa vs Zimbabwe (15h00 local; 13h00 GMT)
GROUP A                   P          W        D         L          GF       GA       GD       PTS
Zambia (Q)                3          2          1          0          14       5          +9       7
Zimbabwe (Q)           3          1          2          0          8          4          +4       5
Malawi                        3          1          1          1          12       12       0          4
Madagascar               3          0          0          3          4          17       13       0

 

GROUP B                   P          W        D         L          GF       GA       GD       PTS
Kenya (Q)                  3          3          0          0          17       2          +15     9
Swaziland                   3          1          1          1          5          3          +2       4
Mozambique              3          1          1          1          7          7          0          4
Mauritius                   3          0          0          3          0          17       -17      0
GROUP C                    P          W        D         L          GF       GA       GD       PTS
South Africa (Q)        3          2          1          0          7          2          +5       7
Botswana                   3          1          1          1          4          5          -1        4
Lesotho                       3          1          0          2          2          7          -5        3
Namibia                      3          1          0          2          6          5          +1       3

 

 

TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 21
Goals scored: 98
Biggest victory: Kenya 11 Mauritius 0 (Group B, September 16)
Most goals in a game: 11 – Kenya 11 Mauritius 0 (Group B, September 16)