Zambia U20 Women Storm Into Semis With 8-o Win Over Eswatini

The Zambia U-20 Women’s National Team booked their spot in the semifinals of the 2024 COSAFA U-20 Women’s Championship in emphatic fashion, thrashing Eswatini 8-0 in their final Group B match on Wednesday.

Speaking during the post-match press conference, head coach Charity Nthala expressed satisfaction with her team’s dominant display, describing the match as straightforward but warning that the players had been reminded not to take any game lightly.

“Yes, the game was so easy. We knew we were going to win because I told the girls not to take this game lightly. We are here for business,” Nthala said.

Zambia’s attacking flair and defensive discipline have been consistent throughout the group stage. They have now scored an astonishing 19 goals in three matches without conceding a single goal — a feat that underlines their dominance and tactical superiority.

Nthala attributed this success to thorough preparation and the players’ fitness levels.

“I think it’s the preparation we are giving them towards every game. Even in our next game, the girls will play the way they have played before. We have taught them to be geared, to be fit, and to stay focused,” she said.

With three wins out of three and a perfect record so far, Coach Nthala believes her side is living up to expectations.

“It means we are equal to the task and we were geared for this tournament,” she added confidently.

Looking ahead to the semifinals, where Zambia will face the runner-up of Group A, Nthala emphasized the importance of mental focus and tactical discipline.

“It’s about talking to our players and organizing them. We have to keep them focused because we really want to win the finals,” she said.

Zambia’s young queens are just two games away from back-to-back COSAFA titles, and with this form, they are clearly the tournament favourites. They will face Namibia in the semi-final this Friday, July 11.