Lusaka
The Brave Gladiators suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of hosts Zambia at the Nkolama Stadium in Lusaka on Sunday in the 2016 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations first leg first round qualification match.
The Gladiators will now face a mammoth task to overturn that result when the two giants square off in the decisive return leg at Sam Nujoma Stadium on March 18.
A brace from Noriah Sosala and another goal from Grace Chanda were enough to give the hosts a comfortable lead going into the break, which they kept intact until the 90th minute, when Poly Babes defender Lorraine Jossob scored a consolation goal for the visitors.
The Namibian unleashed a thunderbolt from outside the box that Zambian net minder Agnes Kauzuu failed to hold on to.
The enterprising Sosala had put the hosts ahead with a piece of individual brilliance before Chanda stretched the lead with goal number two in the 22nd minute. Sosala completed her brace in added time, with a well-taken free kick to make it 3-0 at half time for Zambia.
The visitors came out strongly in the 2nd half under wet conditions as the trio of Vistoria Shangula, Mamie Kasaona and Vewe Kotjipati replaced the tiring Annouska Kordom, Juliana Skrywer and Stella Williams.
Young Emma Naris was outstanding in defense and through her fine play Namibia scored the all-important away goal. Naris’ interplay with Memory Ngonda saw the latter whip in a cross and Jossob was the most alert to the ball, pulling back a consolation goal for the visitors.
Overall, it was a bad day at the office, as early in the first half playmaker Zenatha Coleman sustained a bad cut to her face, obliging her to continue playing with a bandaged head for the remainder of the match, in which she was tightly marked throughout by the Zambians.
The Gladiators returned home yesterday to prepare for the decisive second leg at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek, the venue of their historic victory over the same opponents in 2014 CAF Women’s Championship.