EN, FR, PR: ZESCO Ndola Girls beat Gaborone United to seal top spot in Group A

ZESCO Ndola Girls Reach COSAFA Semifinals with Perfect Group

ZESCO Ndola Girls have maintained a hundred percent winning record at the 2026 COSAFA Caf Women’s Champions League qualifiers. They defeated Gaborone Ladies 0 – 2 yesterday to top Group A and advance to the semifinals with nine points, and will possibly face Silver Strikers or Costa do Sol. ZESCO’s win came after consecutive victories: a 5-2 win over Herentals Queens and a narrow 1-0 victory over Lesotho Defence Force. Yesterday’s match repeated…

EN, FR, PR: ZESCO Ndola Girls beat Gaborone United to seal top spot in Group A

Zambia’s ZESCO Ndola Girls secured top spot in Group A at the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier Botswana 2026 with a 2-0 victory over hosts Gaborone United at the Gaborone United Stadium on Monday. The win saw last year’s beaten finalists claim a full haul of nine points from their three pool-stage matches, while defending champions Gaborone United finished in second place and advanced to the semi-finals, where they will meet the winner of Group B, possibly two-time African champions Mamelodi Sundowns. ZESCO took the lead in the first minute as Eneless Phiri’s corner was met by Charity Mubanga, who powered her header into the back of the net. It was a bruising battle after that and, as the home side pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Avell Chitundu’s close-range header secured the points for the Zambians. The defeat was a first for Gaborone United in regulation time at the regional finals, with their only previous loss in a tie having come on penalties in the 2024 decider. Herentals Queens defeated Lesotho Defence Force thanks to a strike from the youngest goalscorer in the competition’s history. Queens took the lead in the 33rd minute through Dee Mapuwa, who only turned 14 last month and was making her debut in the competition. She controlled the ball well before steering it into the far corner of the net under pressure from a defender. Herentals Queens therefore ended their campaign on a high, while LDF suffered a third straight loss. Tuesday preview The semi-final places in Group B will be decided at the Gaborone United Stadium on Tuesday as the pool reaches its conclusion. Silver Strikers of Malawi face Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs at 16h00 local time (14h00 GMT), before two-time African champions Mamelodi Sundowns meet Mozambique’s Costa do Sol at 19h00 (17h00 GMT). Sundowns lead the group with six points and need only a draw to guarantee their passage to the semi-finals. Silver Strikers and Costa do Sol both have three points, with the Malawians holding the advantage after beating their Mozambican rivals earlier in the competition. A Silver Strikers victory, coupled with Sundowns avoiding defeat, would send the Malawians through. A draw could also be enough for Strikers if Costa do Sol fail to beat Sundowns. Costa do Sol know victory would put them firmly in the semi-final picture, while a draw would only be enough if Silver Strikers lose. Hotspurs are still mathematically alive despite losing their opening two matches. They require a sizeable victory over Silver Strikers and must hope Sundowns defeat Costa do Sol, which would leave three teams on three points and bring the head-to-head tiebreakers into play. Should Costa do Sol and Silver Strikers both win, Sundowns, Costa do Sol and Silver Strikers would all finish on six points, with the tiebreak criteria deciding the two semi-finalists. All games will be streamed live on FIFA+ and COSAFA’s YouTube Channel to a global audience.   MONDAY’S RESULTS Group A Herentals Queens 1 (Mapuwa 33’) Lesotho Defence Force 0 Gaborone United 0 ZESCO Ndola Girls 2 (Mubanga 1’, Chitundu 87’)   TUESDAY’S FIXTURES (both Gaborone United Stadium) Group B Silver Strikers vs Nsingizini Hotspurs (KO 16h00; 14h00 GMT) Mamelodi Sundowns vs Costa do Sol (KO 19h00; 17h00 GMT)   GROUP STANDINGSGROUP A P W D L GF GA GD PTSZESCO Ndola Girls (Zambia) (Q) 3 3 0 0 8 2 6 9Gaborone United (Botswana) (Q) 3 2 0 1 3 3 0 6Herentals Queens (Zimbabwe) 3 1 0 2 3 6 3 3Lesotho Defence Force (Lesotho) 3 0 0 3 1 4 3 0 GROUP B P W D L GF GA GD PTSMamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) 2 2 0 0 11 0 11 6Silver Strikers (Malawi) 2 1 0 1 2 4 2 3*Costa do Sol (Mozambique) 2 1 0 1 4 3 1 3*Nsingizini Hotspurs (Eswatini) 2 0 0 2 1 11 10 0* Silver Strikers lead Costa do Sol on head-to-head.TOURNAMENT STATS Matches Played: 10 Goals scored: 33 Biggest victory: Mamelodi Sundowns 8 Nsingizini Hotspurs 0 (Group B, August 21) Most goals in a game: 8 – Mamelodi Sundowns 8 Nsingizini Hotspurs 0 (Group B, August 21)GOALSCORERS 3 goals – Lelona Daweti (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lucia Moçambique (Costa do Sol), Charity Mubanga (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Eneless Phiri (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Refilwe Tholakele (Mamelodi Sundowns) 2 – Karabo Dhlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns), Isabella Ludwig (Mamelodi Sundowns) 1 – Natasha Benza (Herentals Queens), Avell Chitundu (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Nadia Farranguana (Costa do Sol), Lucia Gaonwe (Nsingizini Hotspurs), Catherine Gwangwara (Herentals Queens), Grace Kakangula (Silver Strikers), Ireen Khumalo (Silver Strikers), Sandra Mugwara (Mamelodi Sundowns), Penelope Mulubwa (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Dee Mapuwa (Herentals Queens), Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse (Gaborone United Ladies), Tlamelo Pheresi (Lesotho Defence Force), Lesego Radiakanyo (Gaborone United Ladies), Goitsemang Tlamma (Gaborone United Ladies)   ZESCO Ndola Girls termine en tête du Groupe A Il n’y avait plus de suspens dans le groupe A avant cette 5e journée de la CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier. ZESCO Ndola Girls et Gaborone United avaient déjà obtenu leur billet pour le dernier carré depuis samedi et leur explication de lundi servait surtout à déterminer la hiérarchie. Ce sont les Zambiennes qui ont réalisé la meilleure opération en s’imposant 2-0 devant Gaborone United. Les Zambiennes de ZESCO Ndola Girls ont réalisé un parcours parfait. Lundi, elles ont validé leur première place en surclassant Gaborone United (2-0). Charity Mubanga a cueilli à froid les Botswanaises dès la première minute de jeu, avant qu'Avell Chitundu ne vienne plier la rencontre à la 88e minute. Malgré cette défaite, Gaborone United accroche la deuxième place qualificative avec 6 points. Dans l'autre match, purement honorifique, les Zimbabwéennes d'Herentals Queens ont sauvé l’honneur en s'imposant 1-0 face au Lesotho Defence Force, grâce à une réalisation de Mapuwa à la 33e minute. Tous les regards se tournent désormais vers le programme de mardi pour l'épilogue du Groupe B. Les Sud-Africaines de Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, leaders incontestées avec 6 points et une différence de buts stratosphérique de +11, défieront Costa do Sol à 19h. Elles aborderont cette rencontre sans pression, ayant largement la faveur des pronostics. Les Mozambicaines, actuellement troisièmes, abattront leur dernière carte pour bousculer la hiérarchie. À 16h, les Malawites de Silver Strikers, deuxièmes grâce à la règle de la confrontation directe, affronteront Nsingizini Hotspurs, la lanterne rouge de l'Eswatini. Après 10 matchs disputés dans le tournoi, le spectacle est au rendez-vous avec un total impressionnant de 33 buts inscrits. Les Mamelodi Sundowns détiennent d'ailleurs le record de la plus large victoire et du match le plus prolifique, après leur démonstration 8-0 face à Nsingizini Hotspurs le 21 août dernier. La course au titre de meilleure buteuse est également d'une intensité rare. Un groupe de cinq mène la danse avec 3 réalisations chacun : Lelona Daweti et Refilwe Tholakele (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lucia Moçambique (Costa do Sol), ainsi qu'Eneless Phiri et Charity Mubanga (ZESCO Ndola Girls). Le suspense reste entier avant le dénouement final.   ZESCO Ndola Girls fecham em primeiro e bate Gaborone United A terceira e última jornada do Grupo A das Eliminatórias Regionais da COSAFA para a Liga dos Campeões Feminina da CAF selou a ordem dos apurados, com o ZESCO Ndola Girls a carimbar o primeiro lugar e o Gaborone United a garantir o segundo posto. Do outro lado, Herentals Queens e Lesotho Defence Force Ladies despedem-se da competição com balanços dispares. No primeiro encontro do dia, Herentals Queens e LDF Ladies cumpriram calendário num jogo de poucas aspirações. Dee Mapuwa inaugurou o marcador aos 33 minutos para as zimbabuanas, numa partida morna e equilibrada, mas aquém do expectável. As representantes do Lesotho, embora tenham lutado, não conseguiram reagir e fecharam a sua terceira participação nas eliminatórias sem somar qualquer ponto. No embate que decidia a liderança, o ZESCO Ndola Girls não deram tréguas ao campeão em título. Charity Mubanga abriu o marcador logo no primeiro minuto, aproveitando um erro defensivo das anfitriãs. A partida tornou-se um duelo de forças, com Eneless Phiri a brilhar pelo lado zambiano e Lesego Radiakanyo a responder pelo Gaborone United, mas a baliza de Tlamelo Pheresi manteve-se inviolável. Já nos descontos, aos 87 minutos, Avell Chitundu selou o 2-0 num contra-ataque e confirmou a superioridade das zambianas, que fecham a fase de grupos com nove pontos em três jogos. O percurso das equipas afastadas reflete realidades distintas. O Lesotho Defence Force Ladies regressa às eliminatórias após ausência desde 2023, mas voltou a não conseguir ultrapassar a fase de grupos, somando três derrotas em três participações. Já o Herentals Queens, bicampeão do Zimbabwe em 2022 e 2023, estreou-se nas eliminatórias em 2024, em Blantyre, com uma campanha notável que incluiu vitórias sobre o Ongos FC e o Green Buffaloes, culminando numa presença nas meias-finais. Em 2025, as zimbabuanas voltaram a estar presentes e chegaram ao segundo lugar do grupo, mas desta vez a participação em Gaborone terminou em desilusão, com apenas uma vitória em três jogos. Do lado dos apurados, o ZESCO Ndola Girls repetem a excelente campanha de 2025, quando foram finalistas e perderam o título nos penáltis para o próprio Gaborone United. As zambianas chegam às meias-finais como líderes do Grupo A e com Eneless Phiri em grande plano. O Gaborone United, campeão em 2025 e anfitrião desta edição, assegura o segundo lugar e a passagem à fase seguinte, apesar da derrota de hoje. Segundo o regulamento, o vencedor do Grupo A defrontará o segundo classificado do Grupo B, enquanto o segundo do Grupo A medirá forças com o primeiro do Grupo B. As meias-finais, a eliminar, decorrem já nos próximos dias, com as perdedoras a disputarem o jogo pelo terceiro lugar. Apenas a vencedora do torneio segue para a fase final da Liga dos Campeões Feminina da CAF. O torneio, que decorre até ao dia 29 de Agosto no Botswana, prossegue com transmissão em directo na plataforma FIFA+ e no canal de YouTube da COSAFA.