Zambia retain COSAFA U17 Girls’ Championship title
Zambia have retained their COSAFA Under-17 Girls’ Championship title following a 3-0 win over Malawi in the final of the 2025 edition played at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek, Namibia on Saturday.
Zambia claim a third regional crown in this age-group, making them the most successful team with Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa the other winners since the inaugural event in 2019.
Malawi completed their best finish with a silver medal, having ended third on home soil in 2022.
Ruth Mukoma, Natasha Kasema and Gift Marimba all scored in the first half for Zambia to secure their win, with Malawi unable to find a way back into the game.
Mozambique took the bronze medal with a seesaw 3-2 win over Zimbabwe in the third-place play-off.
Thandy Nassone gave Mozambique the lead, but Zimbabwe hit back via Shantell Mugute. That joy was short-lived as Zimbabwe goalkeeper Tanyaradzwa Nyamucherera netted an own goal.
Zimbabwe were level again when Dee Mapuwa scored her sixth goal of the tournament to finish one behind Nancy Lebang from hosts Namibia in the scorers chart.
But the winner for Mozambique came with seven minutes remaining as Jessica Andicene found the back of the net.
Mukoma was named Player of the Tournament, while Nancy Lebang took home the Golden Boot for her seven goals, all scored against Comoros.
Zambian goalkeeper Butata Kakumbi won the Golden Glove, with the team conceding only a single goal in their four games, which was against Zimbabwe in the semifinals. Malawi took home the Fair Play Award.
2025 COSAFA UNDER-17 GIRLS’ CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
Third-place Play-Off
Zimbabwe 2 (Mugute 20’, Mapuwa 66’) Mozambique 3 (Nassone 7’, Nyamucherera 22’og, Andicene 83’)
Final
Zambia 3 (Mukoma 34′, Kasema 27′, Marimba 45′) Malawi 0
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 13
Goals scored: 76
Biggest victory: Mozambique 11 Mauritius 0 (Group B, May 12)
Most goals in a game: 14 – Lesotho 2 Zimbabwe 12 (Group C, May 14)
GOALSCORERS
7 goals – Nancy Lebang (Namibia)
6 – Dee Mapuwa (Zimbabwe)
4 – Jessica Andicene (Mozambique), Hellen Banda (Zambia), Mya Munyanduki (Zimbabwe), Faluna Umali (Malawi)
3 – Natasha Kasema (Zambia), Ruth Mukoma (Zambia), Precious Mwape (Zambia)
2 – Hope Lesotlo (Botswana), Thandy Nassone (Mozambique), Alinafe Nyirenda (Malawi)
1 – Khloe Awases (Namibia), Yumna Bila (Mozambique), Alicia Chinyoka (Zimbabwe), Perpertua Chisuro (Zimbabwe), Grace Eises (Namibia), Edite Fernando (Mozambique), Melania Gawas (Namibia), Fatima Houana (Mozambique), Talandira Kachala (Malawi), Gorata Kgotle (Botswana), Chiedza Khumalo (Zimbabwe), Malehlonhonolo Leholi (Lesotho), Sunila Luckubary (Mozambique), Esther Makoti (Zambia),Gift Mazimba (Zambia), Thato Molete (Lesotho), Boiketlo Molise (Lesotho), Shantell Mugute (Zimbabwe), Cecilia Mzima (Malawi), Esther Ngabwe (Zambia), Beatrice Njobvu (Zambia), Grace Phiri (Zambia), Ethel Tambala (Malawi), Victoria Tennyson (Mozambique), Yolanda Zavale (Mozambique)
Own goals – Abellia Armance (Mauritius), Tanyaradzwa Nyamucherera (Zimbabwe), Uakatavisa Tjihiku (Namibia)
