Zambia Boys celebrate latest COSAFA success - Photo Courtesy FAZ Media.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) have described as ‘special’ the success of their Boys and Girls teams winning the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifying titles in South Africa on Friday.
Zambia’s Boys’ team successfully defended the trophy they won in Malawi in 2022 by defeating Angola 2-1 at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto Stadium. Mkushi-based Mapalo Simute was named Player of the Tournament while Abel Nyirongo won the top scorer’s gong with seven goals.
Meanwhile, for the Girls team, Zambia won its second ever COSAFA crown for the Under-17 Women National Team tournament with an emphatic 15-0 win over Lesotho. The Copper Princesses won the Player of the Tournament, Goalkeeper of the Tournament and Top Scorer accolades through Mercy Chipasula and Lovesness Chingwere (shot stopper).
“On behalf of my executive committee and the entire football family, I wish to congratulate the under-17 boys’ national team and technical bench for being crowned Cosafa champions,” said Kamanga in a statement seen by Pan-Africa Football.
“This is special as it has added to our Cosafa trophy haulage this year, where we won the senior women, under-20 women, under-17 girls and boys. The under-17 boys made it four Cosafa trophies in the history of our game from the first one won in 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2024.”
He added: “This success is as a result of a robust grassroots strategy anchored on our 10-year strategic plan. Our technical directorate has tapped into our decentralization program where talent is tapped across the country. A big thank you to the provinces, clubs, government, FAZ secretariat and the entire football family for continuing to support the Zambian game.”
His message for the Girls team read in part: “A big congratulations to the girls and the technical bench for winning the Cosafa crown. The seeds we have been sowing over the years are beginning to bear fruit and the second phase of the plan is to sustain this growth and take it to the next level.
“This story adds to the incredible year we have had that has seen our national teams’ record success at various levels. The Under-17 girls were at the FIFA World Cup and have now added the Cosafa crown to their success, with the U-20 and Copper Queens emerging champions at Cosafa level.”
Kamanga further said the success recorded in 2024 provides a platform to elevate the Zambian game to the next level. “Our Chipolopolo, Copper Queens, Under-20 boys and Under-17 boys have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations which provides a springboard for greater undertakings in 2025,” he concluded.
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