Champions Zambia began the defence of their Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women’s Championship 2025 crown with a dominant display against Botswana at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Thursday.
The Copper Queens ran out 3-0 winners in the second Group B fixture, setting the tone early when Regina Chanda struck inside the opening 15 minutes.
Zambia controlled the tempo and pinned Botswana back for long spells, and their pressure was rewarded again on the stroke of half-time as Susan Banda produced a superb long-range effort to double the advantage.
Zambia could have been further ahead before the break and continued to create chances after the restart.
Captain Kabange Mupopo, who had earlier passed up a good opportunity, made amends in the second half with the third goal to put the result beyond doubt.
The margin might have been even more emphatic, with Eneless Phiri rattling the crossbar from a set-piece shortly before Zambia’s final strike.
The victory lifts Zambia to the top of Group B on three points, ahead of Zimbabwe on goal-difference, who also made a winning start earlier in the day with a 2-0 success over Eswatini.
Praynence Zvawanda and veteran forward Rutendo Makore found the net for the Mighty Warriors, who sit second in the pool on goal difference.
Makore was the Golden Boot winner in the 2017 Cosafa Women’s Championship when she netted 10 goals.
Eswatini are third in Group B and Botswana fourth, both still searching for their first points.
The earlier match also produced the tournament’s first red card, with Eswatini’s Ncedo Gamedze dismissed, leaving her side with work to do as the group phase gathers pace.
The action continues on Friday with a single game in the three-team Group C.
Mozambique and Namibia get their tournament under way with a clash at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium. Kick-off is at 15h00 CAT (13h00 GMT).
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