Luwinga Academy take fifth spot at CAF U17 GIFT Zimbabwe 2025
Malawi’s Luwinga Academy finished fifth at the CAF Under-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) Zimbabwe after defeating South Africa’s Refilwe FC 3-0 at Ngoni Stadium on Wednesday, while Namibia’s Okakarara Golden Ladies took seventh place.
The classification matches were staged ahead of Thursday’s finals day, when the trophy will be awarded and the third-place play-off contested.
Chisomo Mtelare opened the scoring for the Malawian side, with Cecilia Mzima adding the second. Tamandani Chilimba netted her eighth goal of the competition to remain joint top of the goalscorers’ charts at the end of the day.
Okakarara Golden Ladies finished seventh after defeating their compatriots Otjiwarongo Sports Academy 13-1 in the play-off to avoid last place. Nancy Lebang scored six goals to also take her tally to eight for the tournament, while Renaldo Hangula netted a brace and Rauna Uugulu claimed a hat-trick in a dominant display. Lady !Naibas scored her side’s consolation goal, her second of the competition.
The tournament will conclude on Thursday with the third-place play-off and the final, which will be contested by South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Lesotho’s Lishoeshoe (14h00 local time / 12h00 GMT).
They were the top teams in their respective groups and look the most polished sides in the competition, setting up a fascinating battle.
The third-place play-off between the runners-up in the two groups will see Zimbabwe’s Mpopoma Sports Academy face Zambia’s Aguila Stars (11h00 local time / 09h00 GMT).
Entrance to the Ngoni Stadium is FREE and fans anywhere in the world can follow the action live on CAF TV and COSAFA’s YouTube Channel.
CAF introduced the GIFT U17 tournament to give club teams in this age group the opportunity to compete against their peers across their region, complementing the events already staged for national teams.
CAF has made the growth of women’s football a key aspect of its development agenda, and this tournament provides young players with the chance to showcase their skills and gain experience.
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Otjiwarongo Sports Academy 1 (!Naibas 64′) Okakarara Golden Ladies 13 (Hangula 8′, 79′, Michael 14′, 74′, Lebang 28′, 36′, 43′, 53′, 87′, 89′, Uugulu 48′, 54′, 60’)
Luwinga Academy 3 (Mtelera 45′, Mzima 68′, Chilimba 89′) Refilwe FC 0
TOURNAMENT STATISTICS
Matches Played: 14
Goals Scored: 108
Biggest Win: Otjiwarongo Sports Academy 0 Mamelodi Sundowns 16 (Group A, December 11)
Most goals in a game: 17 – Luwinga Academy 16 Otjiwarongo Sports Academy 1 (Group A, December 14)
GOALSCORERS
8 goals – Tamandani Chilimba (Luwinga Academy), Nancy Lebang (Okakarara Golden Ladies)
6 – Sandra Mugwara (Mamelodi Sundowns)
5 – Chiedza Khumalo (Mpopoma Sports Academy), Pretty Modika (Refilwe FC), Lesego Tsatsi (Mamelodi Sundowns)
4 – Luyando Banda (Aguila Stars), Rauna Uugulu (Okakarara Golden Ladies)
3 – Mampona Lekenyane (Lishoeshoe), Katleho Malebana (Mamelodi Sundowns), Angeleque Mohatle (Mamelodi Sundowns), Chisomo Mtelera (Luwinga Academy), Serah Musonda (Aguila Stars), Nsovo Nxumalo (Mamelodi Sundowns), Alinafe Nyirenda (Luwinga Academy), Princess Shongwe (Mamelodi Sundowns), Rejoice Silungwe (Luwinga Academy)
2 – Alicia Chinyoka (Mpopoma Sports Academy), Shantel Gwenhamo (Mpopoma Sports Academy), Renalda Hangula (Okakarara Golden Ladies), Miriam Michael (Okakarara Golden Ladies), Boiketlo Molise (Lishoeshoe), Lady !Naibas (Otjiwarongo Sports Academy), Ntsamaeng Tholo (Lishoeshoe)
1 – Linamandla Bahlehle (Refilwe FC), Rejoice Chamunorwa (Mpopoma Sports Academy), Beatrice Chipupula (Aguila Stars), Tatenda Gambiza (Mpopoma Sports Academy), Gudness Garises (Okakarara Golden Ladies), Mercy Gondwe (Luwinga Academy), Talandira Kachala (Luwinga Academy), Hamida Lifa (Luwinga Academy), Mbali Madondo (Refilwe FC), Boitumelo Manaka (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thando Mndaweni (Refilwe FC), Naleli Morie (Lishoeshoe), Ntokozo Mpofu (Mpopoma Sports Academy), Anashe Mudzingwa (Mpopoma Sports Academy), Cecilia Mzima (Luwinga Academy), Ronisha Nair (Mamelodi Sundowns), Beauty Namukonda (Aguila Stars), Lyndah Rakabopa (Mpopoma Sports Academy), Lerato Sethubatha (Lishoeshoe), Nteboheleng Sooane (Lishoeshoe)
Own goal – Emily Dube (Okakarara Golden Ladies), Makgatla Ramahla (Refilwe FC)
