Zambia have given themselves an excellent chance to qualify for the knockout phase at the 2024 HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championships as they defeated Angola 3-0 in the opening match of Group C at Isaac Wolfson Stadium on Thursday.
In the other match of the day in Group D, Mozambique edged Zimbabwe 1-0 and will also now be favorites to advance from the pool.
Ochumba Lubandji, Lungowe Namasiku and Regina Chanda were on the scoresheet for 2022 champions Zambia on their country’s 60th commemoration of Independence Day.
Angola started the game well, dominating and creating good scoring chances but were kept at bay by Zambia goalkeeper Ng’ambo Musole.
Angola had an early chance in the opening 10 minutes with Ruth Lopes’ tame effort easy saves for the Zambia number one.
Zambia settled and had Namasiku getting in the 18 yard area, firing the ball just over the bar. Soon after, Angola won a free-kick and Zeferina Caupe stepped up but hit the cross bar.
The sides exchanged possession until Namasiku set up Lubandji from the left for the opener on the half hour mark. The Copper Queens kept applying pressure however were let down by their final touches in the final third.
There was opportunity for Angola to equalize just before halftime through Ana Da Costa but her shot went wide, leaving her side trailing at the break.
It took just two minutes in the second half for the Copper Queens to extend their lead through Namasiku. She could have had a brace minutes after her first goal, however this time the Angolan keeper was alert to deny her.
Ten minutes into the half Angola scored through Paulina Lopes goal that was flagged offside. Zambia coach Florence Nkatya wrung changes mid-way through the stanza, bringing in Chanda for Margaret Belemu and she secured victory with the third goal in the last 20 minutes.
Meanwhile In Group D, Mozambique edged Zimbabwe 1-0 in a repeat of last year’s third-place play-off clash. Ironically, it was Mozambique who denied the Mighty Warriors a spot on the podium in Gauteng.
Mozambique showed intention to score early in Gqeberha with Emilia Cazembe launching a long-range strike inside the opening five minutes but was denied by keeper Vanessa Lunga.
Still inside the opening 10 minutes, Nobukhosi Ncube crossed to Ethel Chinyerere but that only forced the keeper to come out for a save.
Mozambique won a corner-kick and Aurora Ngale made no mistake in breaking the deadlock from a tight angle of the short corner.Mozambique had a chance to double their lead through Cidalia Cuta but the keeper punched away for corner and nothing came of it this time.
Zimbabwe kept on their search for an equalizer and would have leveled minutes closer to halftime but keeper Neima Nhamire made two important blocks to keep her side in the lead at the break.
At the start of the second half Zimbabwe brought on Priviledge Mupeti for Peacemore Kenende. That almost had an immediate impact for the Warriors and they again got in the box but denied yet again by Nhamire.
Zimbabwe endured a frustrating second half as they could not make the possession and chances count.
Day four sees the second round of matches for Group A with Namibia against Seychelles at 12:00 p.m. CAT and hosts South Africa against Eswatini in a top of the table clash at 3:00 p.m. at Wolfson Stadium.
