Ntopwa fail to defend FAM Goshen Championship

Kukoma Ntopwa Queens have missed a return to the COSAFA CAF Women’s Football Championship Qualifiers after failing to defend the Goshen National Women’s Football Championship following their 4-0 defeat against Ascent Academy in the Quarter finals of the tournament at the Bingu National Stadium on Tuesday.

Alefa Chimbeta scored two goals while Atuweni Njilima and an own goal from Rose Alufandika were enough for Ascent Academy to claim a win and a sweet revenge over Ntopwa, which beat them last year in the final of the tournament.

Head coach for the team, Tom Nkolongo, said his charges fought hard mostly in the first half as they got early goals which put them in command of the game and that it is not simple to score four goals past Ntopwa.

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“I’m very happy with how the girls have done, they worked very hard in the first half maybe that’s why they got more muscle clamps in the second half but they run much and got those two goals in the first ten minutes, I’m very happy because it’s not simple to beat Ntopwa with this margin.” Said Nkolongo.

He further said that his team believes in grooming and developing players that’s why he fielded blossoming girls to showcase how they can perform and resting regulars like Rose Kabzere in the game.

Meanwhile, Isaac Jomo Osman is the owner and coach for Kukoma Ntopwa Queens and said his girls were too heavy because they have been training since December and they have been affected because it has taken long to have this tournament.

“My girls looked very heavy because they they have trained since December in readiness to this tournament so you could see even yesterday’s games, and Ascent, it’s not how they play so let me tell the organisers of the League that girls are more affected with the delays of hosting this tournament.” Said Osman.

He also said this would also affect the National team as inavailability of the game for the girls has reduced their performances.

Ascent Academy started on a high note as they scored their first goal through Atuweni Njilima on 6th minute before Alefa Chimbeta doubled the scores four minutes later as they continued to dominate the game.

Ntopwa looked like an improved side in the second half but Chimbeta hammered another goal for the Lilongwe giants in the 73rd minute before Rose Alufandika headed into her own net four minutes from the time for the COSAFA Women’s Championship participants were knocked out.

Ascent have progressed into the semi-finals of the tournament and will face the winner between Civo Women and MK Academy, who face off on Wednesday for another Quarterfinal match, on Friday 17th of May while Ntopwa returns home to see plans for the 2024 season.

In another Quarterfinal match later this afternoon, Central Region Champions, MDF Lioness face FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women in a bid for the semi-final place while another Semifinal match on Wednesday involves Silver Strikers and Moyale Sisters.