Mercy Chipasula Crowned 2025 RASA Junior Female Sportsperson of the Year

Seventeen-year-old Mercy Chipasula, the Kamfinsa Police Blue Eagles forward, claimed the Junior Female Sportsperson of the Year title at the 2025 Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA), triumphing over Zimbabwean cricketer Kellys Ndlovu and Botswana’s chess sensation Natalie Katlego Banda.

A Year of Dominance

Chipasula’s 2024–2025 campaign solidified her as a cornerstone of Zambia’s rising football legacy:

Spearheaded back-to-back FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifications for the Copper Princesses.

⚡ Dominated the COSAFA U17 Girls Championship, netting 13 goals to secure the Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament honors while leading Zambia to victory.

Emerged as a symbol of Africa’s burgeoning talent in women’s youth football.

Award Reaction

“This honor isn’t just mine—it belongs to my teammates, coaches, and every Zambian who believed in our dream,” Chipasula declared, dedicating the accolade to her supporters.

Zambia’s Mixed Fortunes at RASA

While Chipasula’s win highlighted Zambia’s strides in youth development, Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda narrowly missed the Sportswoman of the Year award, edged out by Malawi’s Serie A star Tabitha Chawinga. Botswana’s Letslie Tebongo stole the spotlight as the night’s top achiever, clinching both Sportsman and Overall Sportsperson of the Year.

The Bigger Picture

Chipasula’s triumph underscores Zambia’s strategic investment in women’s football—a testament to the nation’s growing influence on the continental stage. With her meteoric rise, the future of African football looks undeniably luminous.