Zambia, Malawi through to Cosafa final

Defending champions Zambia will meet Malawi in the final of the 2023 Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women’s Championship on Sunday at the Lucas Moripe Stadium following victories over Zimbabwe and Mozambique respectively in the semi-finals, played at the same venue on Friday.

The Copper Queens were 1-0 winners over returning Zimbabwe in the first semi- final. Coach Florence Nkatya’s side topped Group B with seven points on their way to the knockouts while Zimbabwe, who are competing in their first international tournament since Fifa lifted their ban, also topped Group C with seven points and were the side with the best defensive record from the group stage having conceded just once.

The semi-final proved a tough encounter for the sides from the far Northern parts of the region as they sized each other up in the opening half with no real shots at goal in the first 10 minutes.

The tempo of the match upped with Zimbabwe winning a free kick after 20 minutes. Vimbai Mharadzi took it from range but goalkeeper Letisha Lungu, the only change in the Zambia starting XI, dealt with it for a follow up corner which the Mighty Warriors couldn’t do anything positive with.

Fridah Kabwe had the chance to put Zambia in the lead soon after, but she was off target. Sarah Jere could have also had the opener, but her shot was tame. Zimbabwe lost their scorer from the last group match Ennety Chemhere to an injury at the half hour mark.

They won a set-piece three minutes later which Lungu punched away to deny them a lead.

Priviledge Mupeti came close to breaking the deadlock in injury time of the first half and her attempt was dealt with by an alert Lungu, who was also forced to make another save immediately with Rudo Neshmaba also knocking on the door leaving the match tied at 0-0 at halftime.

It took six minutes after the teams came back from the break for Jere to break the deadlock with her fourth goal of the tournament and the ultimate winner which sent Zambia into the final.

Pauline Zulu could have extended the lead at the hour mark however her shot hit the woodwork. In that incident she got fouled and the Copper Queens were rewarded a free kick.

Esther Siamfuko stepped up and Cynthia Shonga put her body on the line to deny Zambia the cushion goal. There was drama at the end when the Zambian last line of defence was found napping forcing the Zesco United goalkeeper to make an emergency save to ensure the score line remained 1-0.

In the second semifinal Malawi left it late to book their place in the decider as they edged Mozambique 2-1. The Scorchers came into the encounter as the favourites having scored 15 goals and Temwa Chawinga’s late brace took that number to 17.

Malawi enjoyed possession but could not break Neima Nhamire in the first half. Seven minutes to halftime Cina Manuel started the movement of the ball with Lonica Tsanwane waiting for her in the box but Benadetta Mkandawawire put the ball into her own net to give Mozambique the lead in the first half.

The second half saw Malawi turn up the heat in search of an equaliser, but they left it until the last 15 minutes. The tournament’s current top goal scorer Chawingwa punished the Mozambicans with two quick goals that left no hope of a comeback for Luis Fumo’s charges.

They will now fight to finish on the podium in the third-place playoff against Zimbabwe on Sunday at 12h00.

Meanwhile, on a day where Video Assistance Referee (VAR) was introduced at Cosafa tournament for the first time, the match officials were on top of their game and did not need to consult the technology for clarity. – cosafa.com