The Copper Queens coaching bench says winning bronze at the COSAFA Women’s Championship is a consolation after failing to defend the crown in South Africa.
Zambia on Sunday beat Zimbabwe 3-1 in the third-place playoff to emerge third at the championship.
Zambia was officially eliminated from the COSAFA race on Friday after succumbing to a 1-0 loss to eventual champions Namibia at the semi-final stage.
Zambia assistant coach Charles Haalubono, who led Zambia at the COSAFA Cup, said the camp was demoralised after the loss to Namibia.
“We thank God for the victory today; at least the morale now will be back in our camp,” said Haalubono in South Africa.
“Third position is not so bad, we are coming from a defeat from Namibia. We were devastated by that defeat,” he said.
Zambia is now shifting focus to the early preparations for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Meanwhile, 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.
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.
