Carol Kanyemba’s Green Buffaloes Women FC started the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League/COSAFA Qualifier with a 1-0 win over South Africa’s University of the Western Cape.
Buffaloes began the game poorly, but improved near the end of the first half and continued in the second half after making substitutions, introducing Pauline Zulu, Hellen Chanda, and Natasha Nanyangwe for Judith Zulu, Namute Chileshe and Vanessa Chikupila.
Western Cape had chances, but their three powerful shots were saved by Buffaloes custodian Aisha Mbwana, who was outstanding.
Buffaloes continued to press throughout the second half, but their efforts were in vain. However, at 75 minutes, they won a corner kick, through which the ball found Nanyangwe inside the 6-yard box; her header went straight into the goal to find the winner.
After the match, Buffaloes coach Carol Kanyemba said her girls did what they told them to do: score and make sure that they did not concede.
“Three points is what we were looking for, we thought we would score more goals, but [God]’s plan was not our plan. But the most important thing is the three points that we got that have given us a springboard to the tournament,” Kanyemba said.
Kanyemba gives Nanyangwe kudos
She praised Nanyangwe for making an impact with a late winner after a tightly contested second half.
“The second half was a bit tricky for us because we were playing against the wind and also the sun. The girls that we expected to come out to the party did not come out. And then the substitutes that came in weren’t that confident enough, but I’m glad that the last substitute [Nanyangwe] that we made came in to change the game.”
Kanyemba is confident ahead of Saturday’s second Group A game against Herentals Queens of Zimbabwe, who also won their opener 3-1 against FC Ongos of Namibia. She is not moved by her next opponent’s big win.
“They did not play against us and we’re going to go in as a new game,” Kanyemba flatly stated. “We have everything it takes, they do as well. We’ve got our own game plan and we know what we want out of the game, so we’re going to pysch our girls. We should take this game seriously regardless of the results that were there.”
Kanyemba confidently concluded that “our target is definitely another win. We are not ready to lose any points because they also have three points. We also have three points. The table might be very open, so even the next game wants to get the maximum points so that at least it gives us a better standing on the table.”
