Ruth Muwowo and Saliya Mwanza scored long range goals as Zambia took a grip on the COSAFA Under-20 Women’s Championship trophy with a 3-0 victory over hosts South Africa at the UJ Soweto Campus Stadium on Wednesday.
The win moves Zambia to six points from their two games and top of the table with a healthy +12 goal-difference that will make them difficult to haul in.
After a goalless first half, they broke the deadlock when Muwowo powered in a shot from distance just past the hour-mark to give her side the lead.
They doubled that advantage with eight minutes remaining when Mwanza’s speculative effort crept in under the crossbar to seal the three points.
Zambia had the chance for a third when there was a foul on Bwalya Chileshe and Jessy Zulu stepped up to convert the penalty.Zambia were beaten finalists when the tournament was last played five years ago, but will now be favorites lift the trophy this time round.
Teams earn three points for a win and one for a draw, with the side that collects the most points after their four games the victor.Mozambique edged Botswana in a five-goal thriller in the first game on Wednesday, putting behind them a heavy 4-0 loss to South Africa on the opening day.
Mozambique led early through Joana Mossueie as she netted inside the opening five minutes, but Botswana hit back via Dimpho Sedirwa to make it 1-1.
That joy was short-lived though as Mossueie scored her second and Mozambique led again, but the see-saw contest had Botswana level before the break via Yaone Modise.
It was anybody’s game after that, but Mozambique found the winner via the penalty-spot as Armenia Machava netted what proved to be the winner 20 minutes from the end.
Thursday will be a rest day for the teams but the action resumes on Friday when Zambia are back in action against Botswana, looking to further enhance their dominant position at the top of the table.
