ENELESS PHIRI IN GOLDEN BOOT RACE AT COSAFA QUALIFIERS

ZESCO Ndola Girls forward Eneless Phiri has emerged as one of the leading contenders for the Golden Boot at the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifier in Botswana.

Phiri has scored three goals after the opening round of matches, placing her among a four-player group currently leading the tournament scoring charts.

The Zambian forward is level on three goals with Lelona Daweti and Refilwe Tholakele of Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as Costa do Sol’s Lucia Moçambique.

Phiri has been instrumental in ZESCO Ndola Girls’ impressive start to the regional competition. She opened the scoring in their 5-2 victory over Zimbabwean side Herentals Queens before adding her second goal in the same match.

She then struck the decisive goal in ZESCO’s 1-0 victory over Lesotho Defence Force, taking her tally to three goals in the competition.

The battle for the Golden Boot is, however, far from settled, with Sundowns’ Daweti and Tholakele also among the tournament’s most prolific attackers.

Daweti has been particularly influential in Sundowns’ campaign, while Tholakele has also found the net three times.

Sundowns have produced the tournament’s biggest attacking display so far, thrashing Eswatini debutants Nsingizini Hotspurs 8-0 on August 21.

ZESCO’s Charity Mubanga is also among the leading scorers with three goals, while Karabo Dhlamini and Isabella Ludwig of Sundowns have also scored twice.

With ZESCO already through to the semi-finals, Phiri has at least two more opportunities to add to her tally and strengthen her claim for the individual scoring award.

The Zambian forward will therefore be one to watch as the tournament enters its decisive stage, with both the regional title and the Golden Boot still up for grabs.