ZESCO Ndola Girls: Zambia’s Champions Return With Unfinished Business at COSAFA
ZESCO Ndola Girls are one of Zambia’s leading women’s football clubs and enter the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier as back-to-back Zambia Women’s Super League champions.
The Ndola-based side made a major statement on their regional debut in 2025, reaching the final in Johannesburg. After eliminating Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in the semi-finals, ZESCO were denied the title by Gaborone United Ladies, losing 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Their domestic dominance has been equally impressive. ZESCO won their maiden league title in 2024/25 without losing a match, recording 31 wins and three draws in 34 games. They successfully defended the championship in 2025/26, reaching 85 points with a 7-0 victory over Luyando Foundation Girls.
ZESCO return to Gaborone with unfinished business and will face defending champions Gaborone United, Herentals Queens of Zimbabwe and Lesotho Defence Force in Group A. They have strengthened their preparations with a training camp in Tanzania, including friendlies against JKT Queens and Simba Queens.
The squad also features players with senior international experience, including captain Chitundu, E. Phiri and goalkeeper Hazel Nali, who represented Zambia at WAFCON Morocco 2026.
ZESCO Ndola Girls will be aiming to become only the second Zambian club, after Green Buffaloes in 2022, to win the COSAFA regional title.
Key tournament record:
- Best finish: Runners-up (2025)
- Matches played: 5
- Wins: 3
- Draws: 1
- Losses: 1
- Goals scored: 11
- Goals conceded: 6
- Biggest win: 3-0 vs Beauties FC
- Highest-scoring match: 5-3 vs Ntopwa FC
- Top scorer: E. Phiri – 4 goals
- Hat-tricks: None
- Clean sheets: 1
- Failed to score: 1
- Group-stage wins: 2/3
- Knockout-stage wins: 1/2
