Promising signs as Ongos Ladies beat Zambian champions

Ongos Ladies FC closed their CAF Women’s Champions League Cosafa Qualifiers campaign on a high note, securing a 2-1 victory over Green Buffaloes of Zambia in their final Group A match in Blantyre, Malawi.

Despite the win, Ongos Ladies had already been eliminated from progressing to the semifinals, but their performance in this match showcased their growth and determination.

It was the Namibian champion club’s first taste of success at this level, after two losses and a winless debut campaign in 2021 when they were still playing as Tura Magic.

Yesterday, the Namibians took the lead in the 24th minute when Beverly Uueziua unleashed a stunning strike from 30 metres out that beat the keeper into the top right-hand corner.

Building on their momentum, Twelikondjele Amukoto doubled their lead in the 39th minute, giving Ongos a handy 2-0 advantage as they headed into halftime.

Green Buffaloes, desperate for a win to keep their qualification hopes alive, fought back in the second half. Substitute Vanessa Chikupila pulled one back for the Zambians in the 63rd minute, narrowing the gap and intensifying the pressure on Ongos Ladies.

However, Ongos’ defence, led by Botswana national team goalkeeper Lesego Moeng as their new acquisition shortly before the tournament, remained resilient. Moeng made a crucial double save in the 80th minute, denying Green Buffaloes any chance of an equalizer.

After the match, Ongos Ladies' head coach Agnus Elemu expressed pride in his team's performance.

“I’m proud of my girls, because what we spoke about is what they did on the pitch.

“I think we just started growing into the competition. Unfortunately, it’s the final game for the qualifiers. It’s a learning curve that when we come to competitions like this, we need to start on a high level right from the beginning,” Elemu said.

Ongos Ladies may have bowed out of the competition with the dream of CAF Champions League competition still out of their grasp, but they leave with their heads held high, having shown great promise and resilience against the Zambia’s, who were competing in their record fourth Cosafa tournament, winning the 2022 championship and reaching the semi-finals in 2021 and 2023.

Zambia’s national team, the Copper Queens, have been in fantastic form in recent years with two Olympic Games appearances and a trip to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, highlighting the quality of players in the country. Buffaloes have done much to develop that talent and have in fact won the Zambian Super Division for the last four seasons in a row.