COSAFA U-20: Zambia’s Perfect Start with Thrilling 9-0 Win Against Lesotho
The Zambia U-20 Women’s National Team started their 2024 COSAFA Under-20 Women’s Championship campaign in spectacular fashion, dismantling Lesotho with a dominant 9-0 victory. The match, held at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto Campus, showcased Zambia’s superior skill and experience, as several players featured from previous FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments.
Lesotho’s coach, Elizabeth Yelimala, acknowledged her team’s struggles, citing inexperience and the psychological effect of facing a well-regarded opponent as key factors in the heavy loss. She noted her squad’s lack of preparation and exposure to high-level tournaments, which caused them to panic early in the game.
On the other hand, Zambia’s coach, Charles Haluboono, commended the team’s strong start but emphasized the need for better coordination ahead of their next match against South Africa. Despite the convincing win, Haluboono pointed out incomplete passes as an area for improvement, underscoring their determination to win this year’s tournament after finishing second in the previous edition.
The tournament, featuring a round-robin format among five teams, offers young talents invaluable international exposure. Zambia’s next fixture against South Africa promises to be a competitive encounter as they aim to maintain their momentum in the race for the title.
Zambia’s victory not only sets a strong tone for their campaign but also highlights their potential to dominate the tournament. Fans will be eagerly watching as the Junior Copper Queens seek to continue their winning ways in the coming matches.
