Zambia seek to retain COSAFA Under-17 Girls’ Championship title

As the most successful team in the competition’s history, Zambia will be looking to secure its second straight COSAFA Under-17 Girls’ Championship title win when the 2025 tournament gets under way in Windhoek, Namibia from May 10-17.

Zambia have won two titles overall thus far and are hunting a third, according to coach Carol Kanyemba.

“Our hope this tournament is definitely to defend the trophy. I know it’s not an easy task, but we shall play our lungs out,” she said.

“It will definitely add value to my players’ CV to win two COSAFA Under-17 Girls’ Championships in a row and to fight for those individual awards.”

Zambia’s secret to success is experience. Their players have had ample time to prepare together, as they have been in camp for the Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

Both the players and staff have been exposed to valuable experience at the international level.

“On the technical bench we have gained a lot of experience from the COSAFA tournaments and the World Cup qualifiers and our aim is to transfer all the lessons learnt to the new players in the team, as this age-group will always have new players every year,” said Kanyemba.

Two key players in Zambia’s winning campaign last year are among those who will not return. Mercy Chipasula, last year’s player of the tournament and Golden Boot winner with 13 goals, and goalkeeper Loveness Chingwele, last year’s Golden Glove winner.

“Mercy and Loveness were an integral part of our team. Unfortunately, they are turning 17 years old this year and they don’t qualify for this year’s tournament. But this is good as it helps to discover new talent to expose at this stage,” said Kanyemba.

Despite this blow to the squad, 10 players from last year’s side are likely to return.

Kanyemba views this tournament as an opportunity to set young players up for a long career, giving them the experience and skills they need.

“Such regional tournaments are very good for the development of youth football in our country because we have a chance to tap talent when it’s still young and raw, and expose it on the international stage.

“It also helps players learn how to be professional in what they do and also helps build self-esteem.”

ZAMBIA
Tournament finishes:
2019 – Third
2020 – Runners-up
2021 – Winners
2022 – Runners-up
2023 – Not played
2024 – Winners

Match record:
P22 W17 D3 L2 GF108 GA17

Biggest victory: 15-0 vs Comoros (Group Stage, 22/09/2019); 15-0 vs Lesotho (Final, 13/12/2024)
Biggest defeat: 1-2 vs South Africa (Semifinals, 27/09/2019); 3-4 vs South Africa (Final, 11/12/2022)

ALL-TIME GOALSCORERS
13 goals – Mercy Chipasula
9 – Masela Sekeseke
8 – Tisilile Lungu
7 – Florence Kasonde
6 – Cindy Banda, Jessy Zulu
5 – Shelly Masumo, Zangose Zulu
4 – Hellen Banda, Maweta Chilenga, Lucy Kajiya, Pumulo Lubasi, Grace Phiri, Comfort Selemani
3 – Harriet Matipa, Natasha Nkaka
2 – Bwalya Chileshe, Taonga Chulu, Gracious Tailoshi
1 – Bupe Banda, Esther Banda, Janet Chirwa, Lweendo Hanongo, Suwiranji Lukondo, Tricia Mabamba, Esther Musialela, Lilian Mwenda, Wendy Mwikisa, Precious Nsama
Own goals – Soukaina Maenfou (Comoros), Fabiana Simiette (Mauritius)