15-year-old female footballer dies during National Division women’s match in Kabwe

A 15-year-old female footballer, Annita Chomba, has died after collapsing during a Zambia Premier League National Division women’s match at Godfrey “Ucar” Chitalu Stadium.

The incident occurred between 10:48 and 12:30 hours during a match between Kabwe Warriors Women Football Club and Locus Queens Football Club.

Police spokesperson Geoffrey Chilabi said Chomba, a reserve goalkeeper for Locus Queens, was not playing at the time but had joined her teammates in celebrating a goal.

“Brief facts are that during the 75th minute of play, after Locus Queens scored a goal, their reserve goalkeeper, Annita Chomba, aged 15, joined her teammates in celebrating at the corner of the pitch. When play resumed, she remained on the ground and appeared unresponsive,” Mr Chilabi said.

He explained that the referee immediately summoned the on-site medical team, after which Chomba was rushed to the nearby Railway Surgery Health Centre, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

“The body has since been deposited at Kabwe Central Hospital mortuary, awaiting a postmortem examination to determine the cause of death. Investigations are ongoing, and an inquiry file has been opened,” Mr Chilabi said.

(Mwebantu, Sunday, 18th January, 2026)