Newly-crowned champions Zambia’s players have dominated the theoretical best squad of the 2022 Cosafa Women’s Championship.
The Copper Queens have contributed two players to the starting XI of Cosafa with four others on the bench.
China-based striker Barbara Banda scored the lone goal of the game in extra-time at Wolfson Stadium for Zambia to lift the trophy after beating South Africa 1-0.
Unsurprisingly, Banda, who also won the Golden Boot, has made the best XI alongside her team-mate goalkeeper Catherine Musonda.
It was a timely reward for Banda who was also named the player of the tournament to make up for her absence from action of the recent WAFCON in Morocco, where she was ruled out due to illegibility issues.
Zambia also have the most three players on the substitutes bench for Cosafa in Lushomo Mweemba, Martha Tembo and Margaret Belemu.
Cosafa championship-winning Bruce Mwape has deservedly been named coach of the tournament which took place in Port Elizabeth.
Mwape also steered Zambia to the WAFCON bronze finish to secure maiden World Cup qualification.
Losing finalists South Africa and Botswana have also contributed two players each to the best team of the championship.
Banyana Banyana have contributed to the squad right-back Fikile Magama and centre-back Thato Letsosa.
The 2022 WAFCON champions have two players on the bench namely Dineo Magagula and Linethemba Sam-sam.
Botswana are represented in the theoretical starting squad by striker Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse and left-back Lone Gaoefetoge.
Malawian forward Tabitha Chawinga might have played just two games before flying back to Italy to rejoin Inter Milan, but she has made the squad.
Chawinga scored three goals in two games and won player-of-the match in back-to-back games against Botswana and Comoros.
Other players who have been recognized for their outstanding performance at the tournament are Aliya Said of Comoros, Namibian Zenatha Coleman and Boitumelo Rabale for Lesotho.
Cosafa Study Group released the Team of the Tournament on Monday, a day after the Copper Queens beat Banyana Banyana to win their maiden championship at the senior women’s team level.
