adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Confederation of African Football (Caf) has again made an embarrassing somersault following a gaffe involving the gallant Mighty Warriors, who the continental body claimed had not yet qualified for the African Women Cup of Nations in a letter to Zifa on Monday.
Caf indicated in the letter that the Mighty Warriors still had to play in a third qualifying round against an unnamed opponent before heading to Cameroon in November.
However, Caf yesterday confirmed on its official website that Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea were the first two teams to qualify for the finals.
Caf spokesperson Junior Binyam was at pains to explain the origins of the letter sent to Zifa stating that there was a third round of qualifiers after the Mighty Warriors had beaten Zambia 3-2 in their own backyard on Sunday.
The letter indicated that the first leg of the “third round of qualifying matches” would be played over the weekend of June 3-5 with the second leg set for June 17-19.
“What do you mean by correct position about Women Afcon? Trying to get the sense of your request. Can you assist with more clarity? Have you ever read Women Afcon regulations or visited our website where fixtures have been available a while ago,” said Binyam, before referring Chronicle Sport to Caf’s website for the fixtures.
When we sent him a scanned version of the letter Caf sent to Zifa on Monday and asked to explain its origins, Binyam responded by saying he could not open the document.
“Can’t open your file dear,” he said. He also declined to comment when asked if Caf had a vendetta against the Mighty Warriors, having set a strange midnight kick-off of their first leg encounter against Zambia at Rufaro Stadium in Harare in what Zifa described as shocking. The kick-off time was eventually changed to 3PM after protestations by Zifa.
Caf’s website confirmed yesterday that the Mighty Warriors had booked their place in the finals following a 4-2 aggregate win over Zambia.
“Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe are the first two teams to qualify for the 10th Africa Women’s Cup of Nations Cameroon 2016, beside the host country. Officially, the (Mighty) Warriors of Zimbabwe were the first team to confirm their ticket to Cameroon after a 3-2 victory over Zambia away on Sunday in Lusaka and 4-2 on aggregate. It is the first time since 2004 that Zimbabwe will be participating at the flagship women’s tourney, and they had to wait for 12 years to break the curse. Zimbabwe, due to represent Africa at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June with neighbours South Africa, had the last laugh this time after Zambia edged them in the qualifiers two years ago,” the Caf website article reads.
Zimbabwe took the lead in the seventh minute through Kudakwashe Basopo before Noria Sosala volleyed home an equaliser for Zambia in the 23rd minute.
However, the Mighty Warriors restored their lead through Samukelisiwe Zulu nine minutes before the break, but Misozu Zulu levelled on the hour mark from the spot. Emmaculate Msipa struck the winner on the stroke of full time to complete a double over the Shepolopolo after edging their neighbours 1-0 in Harare.
Online Reporter