CAFWCL COSAFA Qualifiers: ZESCO Girls stun Sundowns to storm final

Debutants ZESCO Ndola Girls came from behind to stun fancied Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies 2-1 in South Africa on Friday, crushing the hosts’ dream of qualification for the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League (CAFWCL) from the COSAFA region.

The semifinal victory at AW Muller Stadium in Johannesburg saw ZESCO booking a date with Gaborone United Ladies in the final of the COSAFA Qualifiers on Sunday.

The Zambian champions had gone into the semifinal aware of the danger posed by the Pretoria-based opponents. Afterall, Sundowns had edged ZESCO 1-0 in a Group A match.

That dominance seemed to continue for Godfrey Sapulas’s girls when striker Boitumelo Rabale put Sundowns in front in the 45^th minute to carry a slender 1-0 lead into recess.

Whatever coach William Zulu told the Zambian girls during half-time pep-talk worked. They emerged from the dressing room visibly fired up and determined to salvage something from the game.

Little wonder, Enelles Phiri levelled matters. The goal deflated Sundowns, who in all fairness, had all the chances to kill off the contest in the opening half.

Frida Kabwe finally put the Zambians ahead and they held firm to their lead until the final whistle.

ZESCO date in the final Gaborone United, who defeated Mozambique’s Costa do Sol 3-1 in an earlier semi-final kick-off at the same venue.

Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse struck in either half in between Maungo Maponga’s goal to boot out the Mozambicans who snatched a consolation through Samira Latifo.

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