ZESCO Ndola Girls beat Gaborone United to seal top spot in Group A at COSAFA Qualifiers
Zambia’s ZESCO Ndola Girls secured top spot in Group A at the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifier with a 2-0 victory over hosts Gaborone United Ladies at the Gaborone United Stadium on Monday.
The win saw last year’s beaten finalists claim a full haul of nine points from their three pool-stage matches, while defending champions Gaborone United finished in second place and advanced to the semi-finals, where they will meet the winner of Group B, possibly two-time African champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.
ZESCO took the lead in the first minute as Eneless Phiri’s corner was met by Charity Mubanga, who powered her header into the back of the net.
It was a bruising battle after that and, as the home side pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Avell Chitundu’s close-range header secured the points for the Zambians.
The defeat was a first for Gaborone United in regulation time at the regional finals, with their only previous loss in a tie having come on penalties in the 2024 decider.
Herentals Queens defeated Lesotho Defence Force thanks to a strike from the youngest goalscorer in the competition’s history.
Queens took the lead in the 33rd minute through Dee Mapuwa, who only turned 14 last month and was making her debut in the competition.
She controlled the ball well before steering it into the far corner of the net under pressure from a defender.
Herentals Queens therefore ended their campaign on a high, while LDF suffered a third straight loss.
Tuesday preview
The semi-final places in Group B will be decided at the Gaborone United Stadium on Tuesday as the pool reaches its conclusion.
Silver Strikers of Malawi face Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs at 16h00 local time (14h00 GMT), before two-time African champions Mamelodi Sundowns meet Mozambique’s Costa do Sol at 19h00 (17h00 GMT).
Sundowns lead the group with six points and need only a draw to guarantee their passage to the semi-finals.
Silver Strikers and Costa do Sol both have three points, with the Malawians holding the advantage after beating their Mozambican rivals earlier in the competition.
A Silver Strikers victory, coupled with Sundowns avoiding defeat, would send the Malawians through. A draw could also be enough for Strikers if Costa do Sol fail to beat Sundowns.
Costa do Sol know victory would put them firmly in the semi-final picture, while a draw would only be enough if Silver Strikers lose.
Hotspurs are still mathematically alive despite losing their opening two matches. They require a sizeable victory over Silver Strikers and must hope Sundowns defeat Costa do Sol, which would leave three teams on three points and bring the head-to-head tiebreakers into play.
Should Costa do Sol and Silver Strikers both win, Sundowns, Costa do Sol and Silver Strikers would all finish on six points, with the tiebreak criteria deciding the two semi-finalists.
All games will be streamed live on CAF TV.
MONDAY’S RESULTS
Group A
Herentals Queens 1 (Mapuwa 33’) Lesotho Defence Force 0
Gaborone United Ladies 0 ZESCO Ndola Girls 2 (Mubanga 1’, Chitundu 87’)
TUESDAY’S FIXTURES (both Gaborone United Stadium)
Group B
Silver Strikers vs Nsingizini Hotspurs (KO 16h00; 14h00 GMT)
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies vs Costa do Sol (KO 19h00; 17h00 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
|
GROUP A |
P |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
PTS |
|
ZESCO Ndola Girls (Zambia) (Q) |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
2 |
6 |
9 |
|
Gaborone United (Botswana) (Q) |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
|
Herentals Queens (Zimbabwe) |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
-3 |
3 |
|
Lesotho Defence Force (Lesotho) |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
-3 |
0 |
|
GROUP B |
P |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
PTS |
|
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
11 |
6 |
|
Silver Strikers (Malawi) |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
-2 |
3* |
|
Costa do Sol (Mozambique) |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
3* |
|
Nsingizini Hotspurs (Eswatini) |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
11 |
-10 |
0 |
* Silver Strikers lead Costa do Sol on head-to-head.
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 10
Goals scored: 33
Biggest victory: Mamelodi Sundowns 8 Nsingizini Hotspurs 0 (Group B, August 21)
Most goals in a game: 8 – Mamelodi Sundowns 8 Nsingizini Hotspurs 0 (Group B, August 21)
GOALSCORERS
3 goals – Lelona Daweti (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lucia Moçambique (Costa do Sol), Charity Mubanga (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Eneless Phiri (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Refilwe Tholakele (Mamelodi Sundowns)
2 – Karabo Dhlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns), Isabella Ludwig (Mamelodi Sundowns)
1 – Natasha Benza (Herentals Queens), Avell Chitundu (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Nadia Farranguana (Costa do Sol), Lucia Gaonwe (Nsingizini Hotspurs), Catherine Gwangwara (Herentals Queens), Grace Kakangula (Silver Strikers), Ireen Khumalo (Silver Strikers), Sandra Mugwara (Mamelodi Sundowns), Penelope Mulubwa (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Dee Mapuwa (Herentals Queens), Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse (Gaborone United Ladies), Tlamelo Pheresi (Lesotho Defence Force), Lesego Radiakanyo (Gaborone United Ladies), Goitsemang Tlamma (Gaborone United Ladies)