COSAFA Women’s Championship: Zambia overcome Zimbabwe to secure bronze medal

The Zambia senior women’s national team surged to a convincing 3-1 victory over Zimbabwe to claim the COSAFA Women’s Championship bronze medal in South Africa on Sunday afternoon.

This third-place play-off, held at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, served as the high-stakes curtain-raiser for the grand final between hosts South Africa and neighbors Namibia scheduled for later that evening at the same venue.

The two regional rivals had previously shared the spoils in a tightly contested 0-0 draw during their group stage encounter on February 22, 2026. However, Sunday’s rematch required a definitive victor, and Zambia found their spark through a standout performance from Mercy Chipasula, who provided a vital assist and a goal to complement the brace from two-goal heroine Agness Phiri.

The Copper Queens ignited the scoring when Phiri burst clear down the right channel; as soon as she breached the 18-yard box, she unleashed a clinical, low drive that squeezed past the near post before goalkeeper Cynthia Shonga could react in the 12th minute.

How Chipasula Transitioned from Provider to Scorer for Zambia in COSAFA

Zambia doubled their advantage when a threaded pass from Chipasula successfully breached Zimbabwe’s high defensive line. This left Agness Phiri with the straightforward task of timing her run to perfection before applying a composed, sweeping finish past the stranded Shonga in the 28th minute.

The provider soon turned goal-scorer as Chipasula netted the third for the outgoing defending champions. She expertly slotted the ball over the exposed Shonga at the near post just on the stroke of half-time, seemingly putting the result beyond doubt.

However, only a minute later, veteran striker Rutendo Makore handed the Mighty Warriors a lifeline. She pulled one back by deftly flicking the ball past a retreating defender after goalkeeper Hazel Nali had aggressively charged off her line, before rifling a left-footed strike into the roof of the net. While Zimbabwe displayed a spirited fightback throughout the second half, they were unable to further breach the Zambian defense.