ZESCO Ndola Girls shock Sundowns to book a place in final

By Aaron Mubanga and Maxwell Kumoye 

 

Zambian Champions, ZESCO Ndola Girls have shocked Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies to book a place in the final of the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League| COSAFA Qualifiers. 

Zegalicious Girls came from two goals down to beat the two time Champions 2-1 and book a place in the final. 

It was a tight affair with both teams looking to get the break but it only came in the dying minutes of the first half, Boitumelo Rabale with a low strike from inside the area to beat Hazel Nali in the ZESCO goal. 

In the second half, Zegalicious Girls needed just nine months to level matters, Andile Dlamini failed to deal with a shot and it fell to Eneless Phiri who made no mistake with a powerful strike from close range. 

Sundowns had their chance to go ahead again, but it was Zesco who found the winner following another poor error from Dlamini. 

Tiisetso Makhubela’s error put Fridah Kabwe through on goal, but the Zambian’s shot was tame and straight at Dlamini, who nonetheless spilled the ball into the net.

Kabwe thought she had secured the win when she got a third in injury time, firing into the net as Zesco caught Sundowns on the counterattack, but the goal was ruled out via a Video Assistant Referee check.

The defeat was the first ever in regulation time for Sundowns in the competition and arguably the biggest upset in CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier history.

Zegalicious Girls face Gaborone United Ladies in the final of the tournament at the AW Muller Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday.

To reach the final Gaborone United Ladies of Botswana defeated Costa do Sol of Mozambique 3-1 in the semi finals.

The final will be at the same venue with a 14h00 kick-off time (12h00 GMT).