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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Confederation of African Football (Caf) has acceded to a Zifa request to move the African Women Cup of Nations second round, first leg qualifier between the Mighty Warriors and Zambia to a 3PM kickoff.
Caf had set a shocking midnight kick-off time for the April 6 encounter at Rufaro Stadium in Harare, but Zifa, through its general secretary Jonathan Mashingaidze, immediately protested to the continental body asking for a change in kick-off time.
Zifa cited erratic power outages as the reason they wanted a daytime kick-off.
“Kindly be informed that match number 21 between Zimbabwe and Zambia is scheduled for April 6, 2016, at GMT 13:00, local 15:00, in Rufaro Stadium,” wrote Caf in their letter to Zifa on Wednesday.
Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela welcomed Caf’s decision to rescind the midnight kick-off and called on fans to come in their numbers to cheer the girls on.
“We welcome Caf’s position and we now feel it’s an opportunity for us to appeal to our fans to come in droves and cheer the girls on. We need a comfortable lead ahead of the second leg in Zambia,” said Gwesela.
The Mighty Warriors booked a place in the second round after dispatching Tanzania 3-2 on aggregate, beating them 2-1 in the first leg before settling for a 1-1 draw on home soil.
The 10th edition of the African Women Nations Cup will be held in Cameroon from November 19 to December 3.
Online Reporter