The Zambia women’s national team have won the COSAFA women’s Championship for the first time in the history of the competition after beating record title holders South Africa 1-0.
It took an extra-time goal in the 108th minute by Barbara Banda who headed in the winner from a well whipped in cross by Margret Belemu to win the Copper Queens their first ever COSAFA Women’s Championship title.
Banda scored her 10th goal of the tournament to finish as top scorer and also win the player of the tournament award.
she scored in each of Zambia’s games at this year’s edition, five months after being away from competitive football following her failure to feature for the copper queens at the 2022 Womens Africa cup in Morocco due to eligibility rules by the Confederation of African football which caused a lot of controversies.
Banda has also equalled striker Racheal Nachula’s record of the most goals scored in a single COSAFA women’s tournament by a Zambian.
Nachula scored 10 goals in the 2019 edition to carry home the golden boot and player of the tournament awards just like Banda.
The Copper Queens will now shift their attention on preparing for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup set to be held in Newzlead and Australia.
