Angola win big, Zambia held

Angola were the big winners on match day one in Group B at the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women’s Championship at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Thursday as defending champions Zambia were held by Mozambique.

Sousa Garcia‘s Angolan charges were rampant as they defeated the Comoros Islands 5-0 on a hot day in South Africa’s capital. 

All the goals came in the opening half from Elsa Caupe in the opening five minutes, followed by Sara Luvunga after 20 minutes, Matondo Matuvova scored the third one while Paulina Sambo netted the fourth. The fifth goal was an unfortunate own goal from Anllaouia Hadhirami Ali in injury time of the opening stanza. 

This result firmly puts Angola in pole position in the group with three points in a group containing the defending champions Zambia as well. 

In the second match of the day, Zambia were held to a goalless draw by Mozambique who enjoyed great possession especially in the first half though there weren’t any real chances at goal. 

In the second half Copper Queens coach Florence Nkatya made early changes bringing Natasha Nanyangwe for Salome Phiri and Sarah Jere for Maylan Mulenga as they tried to get the opener however it wasn’t to be as they struggled  to get past Mozambique. 

This is the only match to not produce a result and goals so far in the tournament. There has been 15 goals scored thus far, 10 from Group A opening day and the five from the first match in Group B.  

Meanwhile the Mozambican Ladies occupy second spot on the log with a point followed by Zambia in third place also with one point and Comoros at the bottom with no point. 

Day three of the tournament will see Zimbabwe, who are returning to international football, open proceedings against Lesotho in the first match at 12h00 at the same venue.

The second game will be played at 15h30 between Namibia and Botswana.
Organisers have made a change to the fixtures for Saturday’s games, with the clash between South Africa and Madagascar to now kick-off at 15h30, and the game between Malawi and Eswatini at 12h00.