The Copper Queens maintained their unbeaten start to the 2025 COSAFA Women’s Championship with a 2-1 victory over Eswatini at the Seshego Stadium. They finished top of the group, edging Zimbabwe to the automatic qualification spot for the semifinals.
Eswatini went ahead against the run of play through Nonjabuliso before Agness Musesa and Avell Chitundu turned the game on its head to give Zambia maximum points.
BolaNews presents the player ratings of the Copper Queens stars in their narrow win on Tuesday.
GOALKEEPER
Mwila Mufunte (6/10): Despite conceding, she made excellent runs off her line and played a number of exceptional long passes.
DEFENDERS
Esther Siamfuko (7/10): Her numerous top-notch crosses cried out for a decisive finishing touch from the Copper Queens strikers. Siamfuko also guarded her wing adeptly.
Margret Gondwe (6/10): While she didn’t always look comfortable at the back, Gondwe dropped a solid performance overall.
Agness Musesa (7/10): She made amends for a poor clearance that resulted into Eswatini goal by scoring a bullet header at the business end of the pitch.
Judith Soko (5/10): Soko lasted just 45 minutes in defence, making way for Saliya Mwanza.
MIDFIELDERS
Natasha Witika (6/10): She became more influential in midfield as the game progressed, choosing to play safe for most of the encounter.
Maweta Chilenga (8/10): Chilenga proficiently dictated the tempo of the match, particularly in the first half. Her runs, turns and passes in the middle of the park were outstanding.
Sascha Chisanga (4/10): Chisanga set up a good shot for herself in the first half, and that was pretty much it.
FORWARDS
Mercy Chipasula (7/10): Chipasula notched herself an assist from one the great deliveries she made. The youngster was very direct on the wing.
Ngosa Chabwe (6/10): While there was no end product, Chabwe was a menace for the Eswatini defence, making amazing runs and nearly getting a goal.
Regina Chanda (4/10): Returning from injury, Chanda was brought off early against Eswatini.
SUBSTITUTES
Agness Phiri (5/10): Her link-up play in the final third got the Copper Queens going.
Avell Chitundu (7/10): Chitundu showed why she is the 2025-26 Zambian Women’s Super League top scorer with a clever finish to win the match.
Eneless Phiri (7/10): No sooner was she introduced to the pitch than Phiri took the driving seat of the contest. Her playmaking skills, creativity, close control and dribbling were impeccable.
Saliya Mwanza (7/10): Alongwith setting up Chitundu’s goal, Mwanza excelled both as an inverted fullback and an auxiliary winger.
Kabange Mupopo (N/A): She got some minutes late on.
COACH
Charles Haalubono (7/10): Job done for Haalubono, who made rewarding substitutions to progress to the next stage of the competition.
READ ALSO: Copper Queens Storm into COSAFA Semifinals
