ZESCO Ndola Girls endured their first setback at the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifier after losing 1-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies in a Group A clash at the UJ AW Muller Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The South African side, known as Banyana Ba Style, moved to the top of Group A with six points, reinforcing their bid for regional supremacy and a place in the tournament final. Sundowns Ladies entered the match on the back of a convincing 3-0 win over Malawi’s Ntopwa FC, and they quickly asserted dominance against the Zambian champions.
ZESCO Ndola Girls showed resilience but struggled to break down Sundowns’ organized defence. The decisive goal came as Sundowns capitalized on a defensive lapse, securing the narrow victory that maintained their perfect record in the group stage.
Despite the loss, ZESCO remains in contention in the group, with opportunities to advance depending on results in the remaining matches. The team will need to regroup and address defensive vulnerabilities while sharpening their attacking options to bounce back in their next fixture.
The match highlighted the growing competitiveness of women’s club football in the COSAFA region. Sundowns’ performance underlined their status as favourites, but ZESCO’s tactical discipline and experience suggest they remain a strong contender for progression in the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifier.