Our latest episode of The COSAFA Show comes just days away from the start of the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship on Wednesday, where East African guest nation Tanzania will seek to retain the title they won last year.

But there will be any number of challengers for the trophy, not least a strong Zambian side that recently finished third at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and sealed a first ever qualification for the Women’s FIFA World Cup next year.

We chat to their star midfielder Ireen Lungu, who also recently enjoyed COSAFA success in the Women’s Champions League competition with her club Green Buffaloes.

Lungu will be a key member of the Copper Queens squad in Nelson Mandela Bay and says they are gunning for a first ever regional title as she discusses a range of issues.

Natasha Tsichlas has been a pioneer in women’s football for two decades and had a hand in starting the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies team that has been so dominant in recent times. She is well placed to talk about the future of the game in the region and what is needed to take it to the next level.

She shares her views on how women’s football can accelerate its growth in the region.