Green Buffaloes to make history in COSAFA Qualifiers
Green Buffaloes will be hoping to regain the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier crown they won in 2022 when they compete for a record fourth time at the 2024 edition in Blantyre, Malawi from August 15-24.
With defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns having automatically qualified for the continental finals as holders, Buffaloes become the only club to appear in all four of the regional qualifier tournaments since they were first played in 2021.
They took the title two years ago when they defeated Sundowns on penalties in the final following a hard-fought 0-0 draw, and have made the knockout rounds on each of their three previous visits to the competition.
They lost their 2021 semifinal to 1-0 Sundowns and again were defeated by the South African club in the last-4 in 2023 in what has been a growing rivalry in the region.
Given their experience and quality, they are perhaps the favourites going into the qualifiers having also play at the 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League in Morocco.
They exited in the group stages on that occasion but will have learnt much from the experience, while they also have several players with Zambia national team experience.
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 foster that talent and have in fact won the Zambian Super Division for the last four seasons in a row, having dominated the Lusaka league in the years before the national competition was created.
Led by experienced coach Carol Kanyemba, who has also guided the national Under-17 side to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup later this year, they have a squad packed with talent.
Goalkeeper Ngambo Musole, defenders Lushomo Mweemba, Esther Siamfuko and Diana Banda, and forward Kabange Mupopo are all part of the Zambia squad at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Many others in their squad have international experience.
Buffaloes open their campaign against South African debutants University of the Western Cape on August 15, before a clash with Zimbabwe’s Herentals Queens two days later and a final pool game against FC Ongos on Namibia on August 19.
They have played Ongos once before, when their opponents were known as TURA Magic in the 2021 qualifiers. Anita Mulenga scored the only goal in a 1-0 win.
TOURNAMENT FINISHES
2023 – Semifinals
2022 – Winners
2021 – Semifinals
| DATE | VENUE | OPPONENT | ROUND | RES | GOALSCORERS |
| 27-8-21 | Durban | Black Rhinos Queens | Group Stage | 0-2 | – |
| 31-8-21 | Durban | TURA Magic | Group Stage | 1-0 | A. Mulenga |
| 2-9-21 | Durban | Mamelodi Sundowns | Semifinal | 0-1 | – |
| 7-8-22
|
Durban | Young Buffaloes | Group Stage | 4-0 | Lungu 2, H. Chanda,
A. Mulenga |
| 9-8-22 | Durban | Olympic de Moroni | Group Stage | 4-0 | Lungu 3, Nanyangwe |
| 13-8-22 | Durban | Mamelodi Sundowns | Final | 0-0 | – |
| 30-8-23 | Durban | Double Action | Group Stage | 1-1 | Mapepa |
| 1-9-23 | Durban | Ntopwa | Group Stage | 1-0 | Chilenga |
| 4-9-23 | Durban | Lesotho Defence Force | Group Stage | 2-1 | Khakanyo og, E. Banda |
| 6-9-23 | Durban | Mamelodi Sundowns | Semifinal | 1-3 | M. Mulenga |
| 8-9-23 | Durban | Costa do Sol | 3rd/4th P-Off | 1-2 | S. Phiri |
GOALSCORERS
5 goals – Ireen Lungu
2 – Anita Mulenga
1 – Esther Banda, Hellen Chanda, Maweta Chilenga, Siomala Mapepa, Maylan Mulenga, Natasha Nanyangwe, Salome Phiri
Own goal – Ntsatsi Khakanyo (Lesotho Defence Force)
HAT-TRICKS
Ireen Lungu vs Olympic de Moroni (2022)
RECORDS AND SEQUENCES
Biggest win: 4-0 vs Young Buffaloes (2022); 4-0 vs Olympic de Moroni (2022)
Heaviest defeat: 0-2 vs Black Rhinos Queens (2021); 1-3 vs Mamelodi Sundowns (2023)
Highest scoring match: 4-0 vs Young Buffaloes (2022); 4-0 vs Olympic de Moroni (2022); ); 1-3 vs Mamelodi Sundowns (2023)
Longest winning run: 2 games (from 07-08-22 to 09-08-22; 01-09-23 to 04-09-23)
Longest losing run: 2 games (from 06-09-23 – present)
Longest unbeaten run: 6 games (from 07-08-22 – 04-09-23)
Longest run without a win: 2 games (from 06-09-23 – present)
Total clean sheets: 5 matches (45.5%)
Total failed to score: 3 matches (27.3%)
Most goals scored in a competition: 8 (2022)
Most goals conceded in a competition: 7 (2023)
Group stage wins: 4 out of 7 (57.1%)
Knockout stage ties wins: 1 out of 4 (25.0%)