Zambia Women, one of the tournament favorites, began their COSAFA Women's Cup journey with a commanding 3-0 win over Botswana Women on February 19, 2026. The Copper Queens displayed their quality and depth in a convincing performance that sends a warning to their rivals. Zambia opened the scoring with a well-worked team move in the first half and never looked back. They added a second goal just before halftime to take firm control. The second half saw them manage the game expertly and add a third goal to put the result beyond any doubt. The comprehensive nature of the victory, including a clean sheet, is an ideal start for Zambia's campaign. For Botswana, it was a tough opening fixture against one of the region's best teams, and they will need to respond in their next match.