Zambia COSAFA light dims
Written by Millennium on August 12, 2019
MUKWIMA CHILALA writes
THE Zambia women national soccer teams suffered defeats in the final games of the just-ended COSAFA Championship which was held in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
The under-20 women side, who were the first to play at the same venue, lost to guest team Tanzania by two goals to one after 90 minutes of play.
Tanzania, who were making a guest appearance at the inaugural tournament scored first through a 23 minute goal by Opa Clement Sanga to take the lead.
The game went to break with the guest team carrying the slender lead, but the women Chipolopolo came back stronger from the break with an equaliser in the 55th minute.
Loveness Malunga levelled matter for Zambia to tie the game at one all until the 87th minute when Tanzania went ahead again with a goal from Potraisa Mbunda.
Zambia could not come back from the goal down as the game ended 2-1 in favour of Tanzania, who were crowned champions ending Zambia’s fairytale run at the tournament.
In the other final, the senior Zambia team could not atone for their juniors’ loss as they also fell 1-0 to hosts South Africa.
Banyana Banyana scored in the 22 minute through Makhubela Martha to be crowned champions.
The losses ended Zambia’s impressive run in the competition for both teams having gone through to the finals without recording a loss in both competitions.