By Mubukwanu Kaingu
Zambia women’s national team coach Florence Mwila is delighted to make a good start at the 2024 COSAFA women’s Cup in South Africa after beating Angola 3-0 yesterday in their Group C opener in Port Elizabeth.
The team’s win came just 24 hours after landing in Port Elizabeth after being marooned in Lusaka due to operational issues.
Mwila said in the post-match interview that the win was also their 60th Independence anniversary present to Zambia.
“It is a good Independence present for Zambia. The first game at a tournament is very important because it gives you drive going into the next game,” Mwila said.
Zambia took a one-nil lead through Ochumba Oseke in the 29th minute to score her first international goal since April 29, 2022, in a 1-0 friendly home win over Botswana at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.
Lungowe Namasiku made it two-nil in the 46th minute while Regina Chanda scored the final goal in the 72nd minute just three minutes after coming on the pitch.
“We have only three teams in the group so maximum points are very important and you don’t want to start using calculators looking at the format where only the group winners this year qualify for the semifinals,” Mwila said.
Zambia leads Group C on 3 points while the Comoros will kickoff their campaign on October 27 against Angola.
Zambia’s last game will be on October 29 and another win in that game will see them through to the four-group, a 10-team competition where only the group winners advance to the semifinals.
