COSAFA Women’s Championship: Namibia outsmart battling Mozambique

Namibia beat Mozambique 2-0 to open the action in the only three-member Group C of the COSAFA Women’s Championship in South Africa on Friday.

Coach Lydia Hatzenberg’s girls needed only two minutes to find the back of the net through Leena Alweendo before Milicent Hikuam’s late effort sealed the victory at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

How Namibia scored the opener

Forward Ivone Kooper played a through ball between two Mozambican defenders, granting winger Alweendo space to shoot past Mozambique goalkeeper Neima Chidembo.

The Brave Gladiators should have extended the lead in the 31st minute. Experienced Zenath Coleman weaved past two players from the middle of the park, but lost her balance as she was shooting; hence placed left-footed effort off target.

Namibia went to the break with a 1-0 lead while aware that they wasted chances to extend the margin.

The Brave Gladiators nearly cushioned their lead but Chidembo produced a wonderful save to keep out substitute Memory Ngonda’s long-range missile in the 69^th minute.

Nine minutes later, Namibia finally got their reward for their persistence. Hikuam finished the ball into the roof of the net after the Mozambique keeper had punched defender Utuzuvira Kahiriri’s bullet onto the path of the midfielder.

 

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What next now in Group C?

The next game for Namibia will be against Madagascar at Seshego Stadium on Monday, February 23.

The islanders will then conclude their assignments by facing Mozambique on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

The overall winner of each group will progress to the semi-final stage alongside with the best runner up.

From the three-member group, results against the bottom sides in Groups A and B will be disregarded for the purposes of that calculation.

COSAFA Women’s Championship fixtures

Saturday, February 21

Malawi vs Lesotho – Group A – 12h00, Seshego Stadium

South Africa vs Angola – Group A – 15h00, Seshego Stadium

Sunday, February 22

Botswana vs Eswatini – Group B – 12h00, Seshego Stadium

Zambia vs Zimbabwe – Group B – 15h00, Seshego Stadium