BUFFALOES LADIES LOSE 0-4 IN COSAFA OPENER

MBABANE – Young Buffaloes Ladies had a rude welcome as they lost 0-4 to Zambia’s army ladies, Green Buffaloes.

The two sides clashed yesterday afternoon in the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Champions League 2022 at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban, South Africa. Young Buffaloes went into the first- half break trailing by two goals. The Charles Haalubono-led Copper Queens drew first blood through Ireen Lunga, finding the back of the net two minutes after the half-hour mark and Hellen Chanda stretched their lead 10 minutes later to make it 2-0.

worsened

The Eswatini women’s domestic league champions were caught between a rock and a hard surface as their woes worsened upon their return to the second stanza, with the opposition adding two more goals past goalkeeper Sukoluhle Sibandze. The highly-motivated Zambian ladies, who were honoured with promotions by Army Commander Lieutenant General Sitali Dennis Alibuzwi five days before the clash, were in cruising mode after the half hour mark after being frustrated during the early exchanges. They formed part of the Zambian national side that won bronze in the recently-ended Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and qualified to the World Cup.

Among these was midfielder Ireen Lunga who completed a brace in the 85th minute after Anita Mulenga made it 3-0 in the 67th  minute. Green Buffaloes are one of the three teams that reached the semifinals last year, alongside Mamelodi Sundowns and Botswana. This was the second match of the tournament, following Mamelodi Sundown’s who beat Mozambique’s Costa do Sol with an impressive 8-1 scoreline. Green Buffaloes will have their second match tomorrow, playing against Comoros’ Olympique De Moroni at 3pm at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, while Young Buffaloes face same on Thursday at 3:30pm.

consolation

The runners-up in the pools will contest for a bronze medal in the play-offs on the same day at noon on August 13, 2022, which would be some consolation for not reaching the finals.
Teams that fail to qualify in their group stages will be expected to officially pack their bags and head back home by Friday. The two top teams per group advance to the semifinals, with runners-up facing each other and group winners also going head-to-head.

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