Johannesburg: Namibia’s senior national women’s football team, the Brave Gladiators, lost their first-leg encounter of the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after a six-goal thriller. The match, played at Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, saw a spirited Namibian side fight back from two goals down to level the score before the more experienced Copper Queens of Zambia found their footing to secure a 2-4 victory.

According to Namibia press Agency, Zambia made their intentions clear in the opening minutes of the game, with Eneless Phiri breaking the offside trap in the 12th minute to set up Racheal Kundananji, who tapped home the opener. Seven minutes later, the Zambians doubled their lead when Grace Chanda’s cross found Racheal Nachula at the far post, and she calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-0 at half-time.

The Brave Gladiators came out fighting after the break. In the 52nd minute, Ivone Kooper pulled one back with a well-placed strike from 15 yards out after neat interplay on the edge of the box. Kooper’s shot left Zambia’s goalkeeper Hazel Nali rooted to the spot.

Namibia’s momentum continued as Zenatha Coleman converted from the penalty spot in the 60th minute following a foul on Leena Alweendo by Nachula, levelling the score at two all.

However, Zambia’s quality once again showed. Kundananji restored her side’s lead with a powerful finish from inside the box after the Namibian defence clearance fell within the 15-yard box. She then completed her hat-trick with a clinical run in behind the defence, rounding goalkeeper Melissa Matheus before slotting home to reaffirm their win.

The two sides will meet again in the return leg on Sunday, with the aggregate winners progressing to the final round of qualifiers for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026. The tournament will also serve as the African qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with the four semi-finalists from Morocco earning a spot at the global showpiece.