The Zambia under-17 Women’s National Team this afternoon started their COSAFA U-17 Girls Championship Region 5 Youth Games title defense with a 5-0 victory over Botswana in a match played at the Bingu National Stadium in Malawi.
The Copper Princesses got the goals through Bwalya Chileshe who scored a brace in the 20th and 78th minutes.
Zangose Zulu also registered her name on the scoresheet in the 22nd minute while Harriet Matipa scored the fourth goal in the 63rd minute and Jessy Zulu added the icing on the cake in additional time to ensure the Zambian girls started on good footing as they seek to defend the title.
Meanwhile, Zambian coach Naomi Phiri said the victory was important for her side, and they will remain focused on defending the title.
“For our team, this is important for us,” she said. “Being the defending champions, we know that any team is not an easy team to beat and we are looking forward to defending our cup.”
Phiri added that her team has set a target of emulating the other Zambian teams that won the previous COSAFA Cups.
“We have said that we also need to do the same, that’s why you have seen the girls working hard so that we can win the cup as well.”
Today’s match was a repeat of last year’s final in Maseru in which the Copper Princesses emerged victorious after beating Botswana 4-0.
Zambia will play Comoros in their second game of the tournament on Monday.
