Zambia came from behind in dramatic fashion to beat South Africa 2-1 in their opener at the COSAFA U-17 Women’s Championships.

Cindy Banda claimed the winner a minute from time as she scrambled the ball into the back of the net to give the Copper Princesses the three points.

The home side took the lead just past the hour-mark when substitute Nabeelah Galant squeezed the ball under the Zambia goalkeeper Chitete Munsaka, who might have felt she should do better to keep out the effort.

But the lead lasted just a few minutes as a goal-mouth scramble after the ball had come back off the crossbar was turned home by Taonga Chulu.    It was the second time Zambia had hit the woodwork as the home side rode their luck a little.

Thursday is a rest day in both competitions, but the action will resume on Friday as Group A swings back into action.