Copper Queens Fight Back Against Eswatini to Secure COSAFA Semi-Final Spot

Zambia's Copper Queens have booked their place in the semi-finals of the COSAFA Women's Championship in South Africa after producing a spirited second-half comeback to defeat Eswatini 2-1 in their final Group B fixture this afternoon.

The defending champions were forced onto the back foot early on when Eswatini's Nonjabuliso Mogkale broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, giving her side a deserved lead. However, Zambia responded swiftly, with Agness Musesa restoring parity just seven minutes later to level the scores heading into the interval.

The Copper Queens came out with renewed purpose after the break, and substitute Avell Chitundu made an immediate impact, finding the net in the 52nd minute to secure a hard-fought victory and send Zambia through to the last four.

Speaking after the match, assistant coach Charles Halubono acknowledged that the team endured a sluggish start but said he was pleased with the overall result. He added that the squad remains focused on continuing to improve with the ultimate goal of reaching the final.

Midfielder Maweta Chilenga, who earned the player of the match award for her influential performance, paid tribute to the fans for their unwavering support. She described the win as a team effort, crediting her teammates for their resilience. Chilenga conceded that the side struggled to find their rhythm during the opening half but praised the significant improvement in cohesion and intensity after half-time.