Malawi’s women national football team will play Tanzania in the final of the 2021 COSAFA Women’s Championship. Malawi beat Banyana Banyana 3-2 in the semi-final to advance to the final while Tanzania beat Zambia 3-2 in penalties to reach the final.
Banyana Banyana and Malawi were playing for the second time in this tournament. The South Africans had won their group stage match 2-1. Banyana had a chance to open the scoring after Sibulele Holweni’s pass had found Melinda Kgadiete in the box. However, Chimwemwe Madise was on hand to stop Kgadiete from scoring.
The Malawians opened the scoring minutes before the break after Banyana had conceded a free kick in their half. Fazila Chembekezo’s header beat keeper, Kaylin Swart. However, the hosts equalised on the stroke of half-time with Holweni’s powerful shot from the edge of the penalty box beating keeper, Ruth Mhango.
The Malawians restored their lead with Sabinah Thom beating Swart. However, they didn’t lead for long as Banyana were awarded a penalty after Madyina Nguluwe was adjudged to have fouled Kgadiete in the box. Holweni scored from the penalty spot to level the score. Thom had the final say scoring late in the match to seal a 3-2 win for Malawi and their place in the final.
Earlier, Tanzania’s Twiga Stars beat Zambia’s Copper Queens 3-2 in penalties to progress to the final of the tournament. It was the battle for a spot in the final between Group B winners, Tanzania and Group C winners, Zambia with both having won all three of their group stage matches. The Twiga Stars launched an attack on the left flank. Lushono Mweemba scored an own goal after Mwanahamisi Shurua had made a great run and tried to pass her teammate in the box. After going into the break leading 1-nil, the East Africans didn’t take their foot off the pedal in the second. And they had a chance to double their lead after stringing a few passes together. But keeper, Petronella Musole, used her leg to deny Opa Tukumbuke a goal. Instead it was the Copper Queens who scored at the other end to level the score.
Captain, Grace Chanda, saw Tanzania keeper, Janeth Simba, off her line and scored from distance with her long range effort going in for a goal. The game had to be decided by a penalty shootout with the sides deadlocked at 1-all after regulation time. Tanzania won the shootout 3-2 to reach the final after Zambia failed to score three of their penalties only scoring two.
