Namibia came from behind to secure their first-ever COSAFA Women’s Championship title with a 2-1 win over record seven-time winners South Africa in the final at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday.
The hosts struck first through Nthabiseng Majiya in the opening half, but Muhinatjo Hanavi and Memory Ngonda found the net for Namibia, their winner coming in the first half of extra time.
The Brave Gladiators were unchanged from their semi-final victory against Zambia in what was Zenatha Coleman’s final match of the tournament.
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis made three changes to the side that defeated Zimbabwe in the semi-finals two days earlier.
Sibongakonke Mzobe, Bongiwe Thusi and Bonolo Mokoma started ahead of Sibulele Holweni, Gabriela Salgado and Isabella Ludwig, with Nonhlanhla Mthandi captaining the side on the day.
A repeat of the 2006 final, won by South Africa, it was a cagey affair with neither side posing much of a threat in the opening half.
Banyana had the first chance when Mokoma struck the crossbar from range just after 20 minutes. The breakthrough came seven minutes after the half-hour mark, Majiya netting her second goal of the tournament from a Sinegugu Zondi assist.
Namibia responded after the break. Substitute Millicent Hikuam attempted to level from outside the box but fired wide. Coleman came close twice, first shooting over the bar and then forcing Banyana goalkeeper Casey Gordon into a goal-line clearance from a set-piece.
The equaliser finally arrived nine minutes into the second half when substitute Hanavi caught Gordon off her line with a long-range effort.
Both sides probed for a winner in an open exchange. Thorisho Mphelo was denied by the Namibian goalkeeper late in regulation time, while Ngonda had a tame effort saved at the other end.
The match went into extra time, and Ngonda put Namibia ahead inside the opening two minutes, finishing from a Coleman assist. South Africa nearly forced penalties in the second half of extra time, but substitute Salgado was denied by the woodwork.
Earlier in the day, Zambia secured third place with a 3-1 win over Zimbabwe in the playoff. Agnes Phiri scored twice in the first half, while Mercy Chipasula added a third on the stroke of half-time to seal victory and the bronze medal for the outgoing champions.
Zimbabwe’s consolation goal came from Rutendo Makore in first-half injury time, her third of the tournament.
Zambia could have added more after the break, but Agnes Musesa, Phiri and Kabange Mupopo all missed the target.
The 2017 top scorer joined Malawi duo Deborah Henry and Ireen Khumalo, along with Lesotho’s Makhotso Moalosi, at the top of the scoring charts.
In the individual awards, Namibia’s Melissa Matheus won the Golden Glove, while her teammate Coleman was named Player of the Tournament.
The Golden Boot went to Makore, and South Africa claimed the Fair Play prize.
Courtesy of COSAFA.
