Zambia claimed a big win over Lesotho and East Africa guest nation Tanzania edged past Zimbabwe on day two of the COSAFA Women’s Championship that is being staged in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The COSAFA Women’s Under-17 Championship also got under way in the Friendly City on Wednesday, with Tanzania claiming success against Comoros in this age-group as well, while hosts South Africa suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of Zambia.
It is a feast of football of many months idle on the sidelines for the players and the first women’s international tournaments to be held on the African continent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Zambia got their senior campaign off to the perfect start with a comprehensive 8-0 success Lesotho, with Barbra Banda claiming a classy hat-trick on her return to the tournament for the first time since 2017.
Banda will be a key part of the Copper Queens’ squad at the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year and she showed her value once again as she terrorised the Lesotho defence.
She opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark after Lesotho has held the Zambians at bay, and added two more in the 52nd and 70th minutes.
Zambia only led 1-0 at the break, but added a further seven goals in the second period against the tiring Lesotho defence as they used their strength and pace to get behind the centre-backs. Prisca Chilufya was also on target, while Grace Chanda scored a brace to go with goals from Maylan Mulenga and Ireen Lungu.
Tanzania took the lead on the hour-mark, Kadosho Shekigenda heading home from a corner as the Zimbabwe defence stood static.
The afternoon got worse for the Zimbabweans when captain Emmaculate Msipa received her marching orders for a second yellow card and they had to finish the game with 10 players and 16 minutes still on the clock.
It was the first red card of the tournament and will keep her out of their next fixture.
Meanwhile, Tanzania got their COSAFA Women’s Under-17 Championship campaign off to a strong start as they defeated Comoros Islands 5-1.
Aisha Masaka bagged a brace, including the opener, while Mwanamvua Haruna, Joyce Lema and Protasia Mbunda were also on target. Noussrat Mistoihi had equalised for Comoros from the penalty-spot in the first half.
Zambia defeated South Africa 2-1 in their opener, with Cindy Banda claiming the winner a minute from time as she scrambled the ball into the back of the net.
The home side took the lead just past the hour-mark when substitute Nabeelah Galant squeezed the ball under the Zambia goalkeeper Chitete Munsaka, who might have felt she should do better to keep out the effort.
But the lead lasted just a few minutes as a goal-mouth scramble after the ball had come back off the crossbar was turned home by Taonga Chulu. It was the second time Zambia had hit the woodwork as the home side rode their luck a little.
Thursday is a rest day in both competitions, but the action will resume on Friday as Group A swings back into action. Comoros Islands and Angola both lost their openers and so will be desperate to get among the points to boost their semifinal hopes.
Comoros went down 4-2 to Eswatini, while Angola were beaten 2-0 by South Africa, but promised a stronger performance in their second game. The loser of this contest will have very little chance of advancing.
Defending champions South Africa will want to improve on their showing in the first game, but like all the sides have likely got rid of some of the rust from so long on the sidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coach Desiree Ellis has won 14 of the 16 games she has taken charge of at the COSAFA Women’s Championship since her first in 2017, with the other two drawn, a proud record she will expect to keep.
The games will also return in the COSAFA Women’s Under-17 Championship, where Zambia will take on Tanzania and Zimbabwe make their bow at this level against South Africa.
Zimbabwe were missing from the inaugural competition that was played in Mauritius last year.
No fans will be allowed access into the stadiums, but the senior championship matches will be broadcast LIVE on SuperSport’s Variety4 in South Africa, and Variety 4 Africa and Go Select 2, as well as being streamed LIVE on www.cosafa.tv. The Under-17 games will also be on COSAFA.TV.
COSAFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Zambia 8 (Banda 29’, 52’, 70’, Chilufya 56’, Maylan Mulenga 64’, Chanda 66’, 76’, Lungu 84’) Lesotho 0
Zimbabwe 0 Tanzania 1 (Shekigenda 61’)
FRIDAY’S FIXTURES
12h30 (10h30 GMT) – Comoros vs Angola
15h30 (13h30 GMT) – Eswatini vs South Africa
STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Eswatini | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Comoros Islands | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 0 |
| Angola | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Zambia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 3 |
| Malawi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lesotho | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | -8 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Tanzania | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Zimbabwe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Botswana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 4
Goals scored: 17
Biggest victory: Zambia 8 Lesotho 0 (Group B, November 4)
Most goals in a game: 8 – Zambia 8 Lesotho 0 (Group B, November 4)
GOALSCORERS
3 goals – Barbra Banda (Zambia),
2 – Grace Chanda (Zambia), Phumzile Dlamini (Eswatini)
1 – Prisca Chilufya (Zambia), Karabo Dlamini (South Africa), Anllaouia Hadhirami Ali (Comoros Islands), Abdourahmane Hairyat (Comoros Islands), Ireen Lungu (Zambia), Lonathemba Mhlongo (South Africa), Maylan Mulenga (Zambia), Tenanile Ngcamphalala (Eswatini), Mokgale Nonjabuliso (Eswatini), Kadosho Shekigenda (Tanzania)
COSAFA WOMEN’S UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Comoros 1 (Mistoihi 26’ pen) Tanzania 5 (Masaka 20’, 59’, Lema 71’, Haruna 82’, Mbunda 88’)
South Africa 1 (Galant 62’) Zambia 2 (Chulu 68’, C. Banda 89’)
FRIDAY’S FIXTURES
12h30 (10h30 GMT) – Zambia vs Tanzania
15h30 (13h30 GMT) – Zimbabwe vs South Africa
STANDINGS
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
| Tanzania | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Zambia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Zimbabwe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| South Africa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| Comoros | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 2
Goals scored: 9
Biggest victory: Comoros 1 Tanzania 5 (November 4)
Most goals in a game: 6 – Comoros 1 Tanzania 5 (November 4)
GOALSCORERS
2 goals – Aisha Masaka (Tanzania)
1 – Cindy Banda (Zambia), Taonga Chulu (Zambia), Nabeelah Galant (South Africa), Mwanamvua Haruna (Tanzania), Joyce Lema (Tanzania), Protasia Mbunda (Tanzania), Noussrat Mistoihi (Comoros)
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Carton de la Zambie, la Tanzanie s’affirme
Le premier carton de l’édition 2020 de la COSAFA Women’s Championship est à mettre au crédit de la Zambie. Les Zambiennes ont explosé le Lesotho (8-0) mercredi au Wolfson Stadium. Dans la deuxième rencontre au programme, la Tanzanie s’est contenté d’un court succès pour son entrée dans la compétition. L’invitée du tournoi s’est imposée 1-0 contre le Zimbabwe.
Dans un premier temps, la rencontre paraissait équilibrée avec une belle organisation du Lesotho en défense. Mais ce ne fut qu’illusion puisque les Zambiennes ont patiemment su attendre le bon moment pour pilonner leur adversaire. Barbra Banda s’est transformée en bourreau du côté des Chipopolos.
L’avant-centre de la Zambie a inscrit un triplé dans cette rencontre en s’appuyant notamment sur sa pointe de vitesse toujours aussi dévastatrice. Elle n’a mis qu’une demi-heure pour trouver la faille avant de récidiver à la 52eminute (2-0). Sans doute fatigué de devoir courir derrière le ballon, les Crocodiles ont finalement craqué à l’amorce de l’heure de jeu.
Chilufya a inscrit le troisième but de la Zambie à la 57e minute avant que Mulenga ne donne plus de relief au score. A 4-0, il était limpide que les Shepopolos allaient aisément empocher les trois points. Mais le festival offensif se poursuivait malgré tout. Chanda (66e) et Banda (70e) se signalaient dans la foulée. La seconde nommée marquait son triplé, le premier de l’édition 2020. Chanda y allait de son doublé pour le 7e but du match avant que Lungu ne clôt le score à la 84e minute.
La Zambie s’avance comme une vraie prétendante au titre désormais. En tout cas, elle a déjà envoyé un signal fort à ses futurs adversaires.
Dans l’autre rencontre, un but de Kadosho Sheigenda a suffi au bonheur des Tanzaniennes qui se sont imposé face au Zimbabwe mercredi. L’avant-centre de la Tanzanie a ouvert le score à l’heure de jeu. Elle envoie du coup sa formation en tête du classement du groupe B.
Invitées du tournoi, les Tanzaniennes n’ont jamais tremblé tout au long des 90 minutes d’engagement. En face, l’on a pu apercevoir une équipe du Zimbabwe très concentré mais incapable de se projeter rapidement vers l’avant pour espérer débloquer la situation.
Chez les U17, la Tanzanie a fait respecter la logique en s’imposant 5-1 contre les Comores. Aisha Masaka s’est fendue d’un double dans cette rencontre à sens unique. A noter tout de même la réduction du score par Noussrat Mistoihi sur pénalty. Dans le choc de cette première journée de la COSAFA U17 Championship, c’est la Zambie qui a eu le dernier mot en s’imposant 2-1 grâce à un but de Cindy Banda sur le gong.
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Banda faz “hat-trick” na goleada da Zâmbia e Tanzania surpreende Zimbabwe
Com um “hat-trick” (29’,52´ e 70’), Barbra Banda ajudou a Zâmbia a conquistar os três primeiros pontos, na goleada imposta ao Lesotho por 8-0, na jornada inaugural do grupo “B”, do Campeonato Sénior Feminino do Conselho das Associações de Futebol da África Austral (COSAFA), que decorre no Município de Nelson Mandela Bay, África do Sul, devendo terminar no dia 14 de Novembro do ano corrente. A sua brilhante actuação foi agraciada com o prémio de melhor jogadora em campo.
Entretanto, a Tanzania surpreendeu o gigante Zimbabwe vencendo tangencialmente por 1-0, na primeira jornada do grupo “C”, tendo Kadosho Shekigenda convertido em golo o pontapé-de-canto batido por uma das suas colegas.
Com o dia de amanhã reservado ao descanso das equipas, as partidas retomam nesta sexta-feira, com empolgantes confrontos que serão decisivos para se ter o alinhamento das selecções que poderão ter maiores hipóteses de seguir para as meias-finais.
Com efeito, o Eswatini e a África do Sul, equipas que saíram-se triunfantes na jornada inaugural, irão medir força entre si, no desfecho da segunda jornada do grupo “A”, no Wolfson Stadium, pelas 15;30 horas, enquanto que as aflitas Angola e Comores, também da mesma série medirão forças entre si, quando forem 12.30 horas, no mesmo terreno.
A Zâmbia que já garantiu a sua presença nos Jogos Olímpicos de Tóquio, a realizarem-se no próximo ano, usará este torneio como uma excelente oportunidade para aprimorar a sua performance e lutar para o seu primeiro título nesta competição.
Ausente na edição anterior, o Lesotho não criou facilidades as vice-campeãs (Zâmbia), obrigando-as a jogar a largura do campo. A experiente Barbra Banda, dificilmente conseguia exponenciar a sua criatividade em campo, pois encontrava a forte marcação da defensiva do Lesotho.
Ainda assim, matreira e forte em saídas para o contra-ataque, Banda mostrou as suas qualidades e encarregou-se de abrir o marcador a passagem do minuto 29´, levando a sua equipa para o intervalo com a vantagem no placard.
As representantes zambianas só precisaram de paciência para garantir a tranquilidade e encherem o saco. Para além dos golos de Barbra Banda, Chilufya (56´), Mulenga (64’), Chanda (66´ e 76’) e Lungu (84´) foram a tempo de dar o ar da sua graça perante um adversário incapaz.
