By Victor Kanayo
South Africa went down to Zambia 3-4 via penalties in the final of the 2024 COSAFA Women’s Championship.
The outcome of the match means that Zambia have been crowned champions.
The Zambian women’s team mostly known as Copper Queens have now earned their second title of the competition.
Zambia’s previous success came in 2022, while South Africa were hoping to lift the trophy for the first time since 2020.
How The Cooper Queens Sailed
Zambia were all over South Africa in the opening minutes of the first half, keeping the ball in the hosts’ half. However, they could not create clear scoring chances with their early possession.
The Copper Queens got a clear shot when they won a set-piece in the 12th minute,however Pauline Zulu sent her effort over the bar.
Banyana missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock in the 41st minute when they won a corner.
Tshegofatso Motlogelwa took the set-piece and when the Zambian keeper spilled it, Asanda Hadebe couldn’t capitalise on the second ball to score.
The start of the second half belonged to Banyana with Isabella Ludwig shooting from range and missing the target by an inch.
In the 53rd minute Nobahle Mdelwa banged the ball into the net, however VAR ruled out the goal. Lungowe Namasiku came one-on-one with home keeper Jessica Williams but the latter made an important block to deny her. .
A bad clearance by Zambia defense saw Shannon Macomo also try her luck at goal only to shoot wide.
Banyana missed yet another golden chance to score in the 78th minute, after Hadebe set-up Mdelwa, who missed the target.
The game went into extra-time but neither team could find a winner.
Ludwig won the Player of the Tournament, while the Zambian duo of Ochumba Lubanji and Fridah Mukoma claimed the Golden Boot after they scored four goals each.
Williams claimed the Golden Glove, while Zambia took the Fair Play award.
