Namibia, South Africa to contest HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship 2025 final

Namibia will meet hosts South Africa in the final of the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship 2025 after stunning defending champions Zambia with a 1-0 win in the first semi-final at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Friday.

South Africa defeated Zimbabwe 4-2 on penalties after their semi-final ended 1-1 in regular time.

Veteran midfielder Zenatha Coleman set up Juliana Blou in injury time to secure victory for the Brave Gladiators and send them into their first final in 20 years. The Copper Queens were wasteful in front of goal in both halves. Margaret Belemu found Avell Chitundu inside the opening five minutes, but the latter sent the ball onto the roof of the net.

There was also an opportunity for captain Kabange Mupopo, but her effort did not trouble the Namibia goalkeeper. Eneless Phiri could also have scored from a free-kick, but missed the target as she shot just over the bar.

The match went into half-time deadlocked and it was Namibia who showed more urgency in the opening stages of the second half, with Coleman shooting wide.

Zambia were again guilty of getting into the opposition half but could not find the killer instinct.

With the match looking set for a goalless draw and potential penalties, Zambia lost possession, Coleman pounced and slipped the ball through for Blou, who made no mistake with the all-important goal.

In the second game, Zimbabwe showed their intention to score as early as the second minute through Privilege Mupeti, forcing the South African defence into a clearance.

Nine minutes later, Mupeti found Ethel Chinyerere, who broke the deadlock with a stunner into the top corner from outside the box.

Banyana Banyana had a chance to level through Nonhlanhla Mthandi inside 20 minutes, but her shot was too tame to cause Zimbabwe any problems. There was another chance for the record seven-time champions to pull one back through Nthabiseng Majiya from a Shakira O’Malley pass, but she missed the target.

Majiya responded eight minutes after the half-hour mark, latching onto a Casey Gordon goal-kick and levelling the scores.

The changes made by Sithethelelwe Sibanda in the second half almost had an early impact as substitute Bridget Mutaurwa combined with Rutendo Makore, who also came off the bench, but the former COSAFA top goalscorer missed the ball by an inch.

The swing in possession then saw Banyana captain Sibulele Holweni test Cynthia Shongwe from range, with the Zimbabwean goalkeeper denying her. Shongwe was again on high alert to keep Banyana out from a Sinegugu Zondi set-piece. Holweni could have scored after capitalising on a corner rebound, but missed by inches as the ball flew over the bar.

The game ended 1-1 and was decided on penalties, with Gordon saving one spot-kick and Nokukhanya Ndlovu hitting the woodwork as Banyana won 4-2.

Namibia’s last final in the competition was in 2006 when they lost 3-1 to South Africa.

The final will be played at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday with a 15h00 kick-off (13h00 GMT).

Entrance for fans will be FREE of charge. Tickets are distributed on a first come, first served basis.
If you cannot get to the stadium, you can watch all matches streamed LIVE on FIFA+ and COSAFA’s YouTube channel,

 

FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Semi-finals – New Peter Mokaba Stadium
Zambia 0 Namibia 1 (Blou 90’)

South Africa 1 (Majiya 39’) Zimbabwe 1 (Chinyere 10’)
South Africa won 4-2 on penalties

 

SUNDAY’S FIXTURES
Third-place Play-off – New Peter Mokaba Stadium
Zambia vs Zimbabwe (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)

Final – New Peter Mokaba Stadium
Namibia vs South Africa (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)

 

TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 17
Goals scored: 39
Biggest victory: Malawi 8 Lesotho 1 (Group A, February 21)
Most goals in a game: 9 – Malawi 8 Lesotho 1 (Group A, February 21)

 

GOALSCORERS
3 goals – Deborah Henry (Malawi), Ireen Khumalo (Malawi), Makhotso Moalosi (Lesotho)
2 – Rutendo Makore (Zimbabwe), Nonjabuliso Mokgale (Eswatini)
1 – Leena Alweendo (Namibia), Susan Banda (Zambia), Amelia Banze (Mozambique), Juliana Blou (Namibai), Regina Chanda (Zambia), Vanessa Chikupila (Malawi), Ethel Chinyere (Zimbabwe), Avell Chitundu (Zambia), Millicent Hikuam (Namibia), Sibulele Holweni (South Africa), Arminda Lopes (Angola), Nthabiseng Majiya (South Africa), Cristina Makua (Angola), Nolofatso Mamela (Botswana), Cina Manuel (Mozambique), Vitumbiko Mkandawire (Malawi), Bonolo Mokoma (South Africa), Thorisho Mphelo (South Africa), Nonhlanhla Mthandi (South Africa), Kabange Mupopo (Zambia), Agness Musesa (Zambia), Olivia Phikani (Malawi), Aimee Razanampiavy (Madagascar), Gabriela Salgado (South Africa), Maria Viera (Angola), Praynance Zvawanda (Zimbabwe)

 

 

L’Afrique du Sud et la Namibie se disputent la couronne
La Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship 2026, qui se déroule actuellement sous le soleil de Polokwane, a rendu son verdict pour le dernier carré lors d’une journée de vendredi riche en émotions et en rebondissements. Dans une compétition où l’équilibre des forces a souvent surpris les observateurs, les demi-finales ont confirmé que le football féminin d’Afrique australe gagne en intensité et en suspense.

La première sensation est venue de la victoire historique de la Namibie face à la Zambie. Alors que les Chipolopolo Queens semblaient favorites après leur phase de groupes dominante, marquée notamment par le plus large succès du tournoi face au Botswana le 19 février, elles se sont heurtées à un bloc namibien infranchissable. La délivrance pour les Brave Gladiators est intervenue à l’ultime seconde du temps réglementaire grâce à une réalisation de Blou à la 90e minute, scellant un hold-up tactique parfait.

Dans la seconde demi-finale, l’Afrique du Sud a dû puiser dans ses retranchements pour écarter un Zimbabwe tenace. Cueillies à froid par l’ouverture du score de Chinyere dès la 10e minute, les Banyana Banyana ont réagi avant la pause par Majiya à la 39e minute. Incapables de se départager durant le temps réglementaire, les deux nations ont eu recours à la séance de tirs au but, où l’expérience sud-africaine a prévalu avec un score de 4 à 2. À l’aube de la clôture de cette édition 2026, le bilan statistique affiche 37 buts inscrits en 19 rencontres.

Si le classement des buteuses est toujours dominé par les Malawites Deborah et Khumalo avec trois réalisations, la finale de dimanche pourrait permettre à d’autres joueuses de s’illustrer. Le programme de la dernière journée s’annonce électrique. Dès 12h, la Zambie et le Zimbabwe se disputeront la médaille de bronze dans un duel de prestige entre deux nations majeures de la zone. Puis, à 15h, la grande finale opposera l’Afrique du Sud à la Namibie. Les Sud-Africaines, devant leur public, viseront le titre pour couronner leur régularité, tandis que la Namibie, portée par son exploit contre la Zambie, tentera de conclure son parcours héroïque par un premier sacre continental historique dans le ciel de Polokwane.

 

Namíbia destrona Zâmbia e “bate-se” com África do Sul na final
A final da 13.ª edição do HOLLYWOODBETS Campeonato Feminino COSAFA 2025 já está definida e promete emoções fortes: Namíbia e África do Sul vão disputar o troféu, este domingo, no New Peter Mokaba Stadium, em Polokwane, depois de duas meias-finais intensas e decididas nos detalhes.

A primeira meia-final colocou frente-a-frente a campeã em título Zâmbia e uma ambiciosa Namíbia. Durante 89 minutos, o marcador manteve-se em branco, num duelo tacticamente fechado, marcado pela disciplina estratégica das seleccionadoras Enala Phiri (Zâmbia) e Lydia Hatzenberg (Namíbia). De um lado, a influência ofensiva de Racheal “Eneless” Phiri; do outro, a criatividade e experiência de Zenatha Coleman, que assumiu protagonismo em vários momentos do encontro.

Quando tudo indicava prolongamento, a história do jogo escreveu-se ao minuto 90. Zenatha Coleman arrancou desde o meio-campo, deixou para trás a defensiva zambiana e, já perto da linha de fundo, assistiu com precisão a avançada Juliana Blou, que apareceu no sítio certo para encostar com o pé esquerdo e fazer o 1-0. O golo gelou as detentoras do título e desencadeou uma explosão de alegria nas bancadas. Zenatha Coleman foi eleita melhor jogadora em campo, coroando uma exibição determinante. A Namíbia alcança, assim, pela primeira vez na sua história, a final da competição, depois de em 2022 ter terminado no quarto lugar.

Na segunda meia-final, a anfitriã África do Sul enfrentou o Zimbabwe num encontro igualmente dramático. As sul-africanas entraram melhor e adiantaram-se no marcador por intermédio de Nthabiseng Majiya, mas o Zimbabwe reagiu e restabeleceu a igualdade, levando a decisão para as grandes penalidades após o empate a uma bola no tempo regulamentar.

Na marcação dos castigos máximos, a guarda-redes Casey Gordon assumiu papel decisivo ao defender uma das tentativas adversárias, enquanto outra bola do Zimbabwe embateu no ferro. A eficácia das sul-africanas permitiu selar o triunfo por 4-3 nas penalidades, garantindo presença na final diante do seu público. Sibulele Hilweni foi distinguida como melhor jogadora em campo, num reconhecimento pela consistência exibida ao longo do encontro.

Com estes resultados, a final colocará frente-a-frente Namíbia e África do Sul, este domingo, às 15h00, no New Peter Mokaba Stadium. Antes, às 12h00, Zâmbia e Zimbabwe disputarão o jogo de atribuição do terceiro lugar, procurando terminar a competição no pódio.

A edição de 2025 tem sido marcada pelo equilíbrio e por decisões nos instantes finais. A Namíbia chega moralizada após destronar a campeã em título ao cair do pano; a África do Sul apresenta-se confiante depois de superar a pressão das grandes penalidades. Está, assim, montado o cenário para uma final inédita e carregada de simbolismo, onde história e ambição se cruzam na luta pelo título regional.