Striker Barbra Banda scored five goals as Zambia cruised into the semifinals of the 2022 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship thanks to a resounding 7-0 victory over Lesotho at the Madibaz Stadium in Nelson Mandela Bay on Sunday.
Banda was lethal in front of goal as she took her tally in the tournament to seven in just two games to head the scorers charts.
Evarine Katongo and Siomala Mapepa also netted goals for the Copper Queens, who have underlined their status as one of the pre-tournament favourites, having brought with them many of the players who won them the bronze medal at the recent Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
They have ensured a semifinal place and so can take it easy in their final pool match against Eswatini on Tuesday.
Ivone Kooper scored a brace for Namibia as they beat Eswatini 5-1, including an excellent first goal as she lobbed the goalkeeper from the edge of the box.
It was 2-0 midway through the first half when Memory Ngonda beat Eswatini keeper Gcinile Dlamini at her near post.
Eswatini pulled a goal back just before halftime when Sisanda Ndzinisa drilled the ball in low from just inside the box. But Namibia scored three more times in the second period when Kooper added her second, and three minutes later Veweziwa Kotjipati added a fourth.
Zenatha Coleman had missed a penalty earlier in the half but second time round converted from 12 yards after being given another opportunity late on.
The action continues on Monday with the second round of games in Group C as defending champions Tanzania look to make it back-to-back wins when they meet
Botswana at the Madibaz Stadium (15h30 CAT).
That will be preceded by a clash between Malawi and Comoros (12h00 CAT), who both need to win to stay in contention of a semifinal place.