Goals-fest on opening day of CAF U17 GIFT Zimbabwe 2025
The CAF Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) Zimbabwe 2025 burst into life at Ngoni Stadium on Monday with a goal-laden opening day, as 16 goals were scored across the two Group A fixtures.
Mamelodi Sundowns claimed the first three points of the competition in Group A with a 3–1 victory over Luwinga Academy, before hosts Mpopoma Sports Academy overwhelmed Namibia’s Otjiwarongo Sports Academy 12–0 in Norton, near Harare.
Sundowns opened their campaign with a composed performance. Sandra Mugwara broke the deadlock in the first half after a tightly contested opening spell.
Mugwara is one of two players who joined the Sundowns camp only on Sunday evening, having been involved in helping their first team win the league title in South Africa. Angelique Mohatle doubled the advantage early in the second half, and although Luwinga responded through Rejoice Silungwe, the Brazilians finished strongly.
Mohatle completed her brace late in the match to secure maximum points.
The second Group A match saw Mpopoma Sports Academy stamp their authority on the tournament. The Zimbabwean side proved far too strong for Otjiwarongo as they surged to the top of the standings.
They scored five goals in the first half alone, with Alicia Chinyoka and Chiedza Khumalo, who registered the first four goals of the tournament and completed her hat-trick in the second half, ending with four goals. Tatenda Gambiza, Ntokozo Mpofu, Lindah Rakabopa, and Rejoice Chamunorwa also found the target, while Anashe Mudzingwa added a brace in a dominant display.
Day Two shifts attention to Group B, with Refilwe FC from South Africa taking on Lishoeshoe of Lesotho in the opening fixture at 12:00 CAT (10:00 GMT), followed by Aguila Stars of Zambia against Okakarara Golden Ladies from Namibia at 15:00 (13:00 GMT), both matches again at Ngoni Stadium.
Entrance to the venue is FREE and fans anywhere in the world can follow the action live on CAF TV and COSAFA’s YouTube Channel.
MONDAY’S RESULTS
Mamelodi Sundowns 3 (Mugwara 14′, Mohatle 49′, 70′) Luwinga Academy 1 (Silungwe 65’)
Mpopoma Sports Academy 12 (Chinyoka 14′, Khumalo 17′, 30′, 82′, 90′, Gambiza 25′, Mpofu 45′, Rakabopa 47′, Gwenhamo 49′, 73′, Chamunorwa 58′, Mudzingwa 65′) Otjiwarongo Sports Academy 0
STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Mpopoma Sports Academy (Zimbabwe) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 |
| Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Luwinga Academy (Malawi) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| Otjiwarongo Sports Academy (Namibia) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | -12 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Aguila Stars (Zambia) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lishoeshoe (Lesotho) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Refilwe FC (South Africa) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Okakarara Golden Ladies (Namibia) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATISTICS
Matches Played: 2
Goals Scored: 16
Biggest Win: Mpopoma Sports Academy 12 Otjiwarongo Sports Academy 0 (Group A, December 8)
Most goals in a game: 12 – Mpopoma Sports Academy 12 Otjiwarongo Sports Academy 0 (Group A, December 8)
GOALSCORERS
4 goals – Chiedza Khumalo (Mpopoma Sports Academy)
2 – Shantel Gwenhamo (Mpopoma Sports Academy), Angeleque Mohatle (Mamelodi Sundowns)
1 – Rejoice Chamunorwa (Mpopoma Sports Academy), Alicia Chinyoka (Mpopoma Sports Academy), Tatenda Gambiza (Mpopoma Sports Academy), Ntokozo Mpofu (Mpopoma Sports Academy), Sandra Mugwara (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lyndah Rakabopa (Mpopoma Sports Academy), Anashe Mudzingwa (Mpopoma Sports Academy), Rejoice Silungwe (Luwinga Academy)
