The Zambia women’s national football team kicked off the defense of their Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship title in emphatic fashion, securing a dominant 3-0 win over Botswana in their Group B opener.
The Copper Queens delivered a statement performance at the tournament, immediately climbing to the summit of the group standings.
While they share the same number of points as Zimbabwe following the first round of fixtures, Zambia’s superior goal differential gives them an early edge in the race for knockout stage qualification.
From the opening whistle, the defending champions dictated the tempo against a determined Botswana side. Regina Chanda set the tone in the 16th minute, calmly finding the back of the net to give Zambia an early lead.
The Copper Queens maintained relentless pressure, and their persistence paid off deep into first-half stoppage time when Susan Banda doubled the advantage just before the interval.
Zambia’s structured buildup and sharp finishing left Botswana with few answers, while their defensive organization ensured the opposition rarely threatened.
Kabange Mupopo put the result beyond doubt in the 72nd minute, slotting home the third goal to cap off a polished all-around display.
Earlier in the day, Zimbabwe had secured a 2-0 victory over Eswatini, setting the stage for a pivotal group decider.
Zambia now turns its focus to Sunday’s high-stakes clash with Zimbabwe at 15:00hrs CAT a match that will likely determine which side claims the top spot and gains the upper hand in the title race.
