Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE will be taking a cautious approach when they get their COSAFA Women’s Championship adventure underway, after being handed a tricky draw for the 2026 competition in Polokwane, South Africa.
The Mighty Warriors were yesterday drawn into Group B along with defending champions Zambia, Botswana and Eswatini.
The 13th edition of the tournament is slated for February 18 to March 1.
Hosts South Africa headline Group A, where they are expected to shrug off competition from 2023 champions Malawi, Lesotho and Angola in what is the toughest pool.
Group C will feature Mozambique, Namibia and Madagascar with the top teams in each pool and the best-placed runners-up advancing to the semi-finals.
However, because there are three teams in Group C, results against the bottom sides in Groups A and B will be disregarded for the purposes of calculation for the best second-placed side.
After noting yesterday’s draw conducted in Johannesburg, Mighty Warriors coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda feels that her charges have been placed in a tricky group.
“I have chosen to term it a tricky group because from the outside, it looks quite fair, especially when you consider our history with the opponents,” she said.
“However, from the inside, based on my experience as a coach these are games that we should never underestimate.
“We have, on countless occasions, beaten Eswatini and Botswana so obviously after seeing the draw, they will be preparing to come hard on us hence the tricky part.”
Zimbabwe’s biggest challenge will come from their old rivals and northern neighbours Zambia, a side that has, on countless occasions, proved to be a powerhouse in Africa.
In the last COSAFA edition, they beat South Africa 4-3 on penalties following a 0-0 draw in the final, which was staged in Gqeberha.
To entertain hopes of making it past the group stages, the Mighty Warriors have to win at least two games in their group.
Based on history, Sibanda’s side stand a chance of making it to the semi-finals.
The last time they played Botswana, the match ended in a 1-1 stalemate before they walloped Eswatini 3-1.
However, Zimbabwe went on to rebuild, bringing in younger players in their squad and only retaining a few old horses for experience.
“We stand a good chance of making it into the semi-finals, we just need to play our cards right,” said Sibanda.
“Our preparations are going on well . . . it has been a few days in camp, and already the response is impressive, so we are ready for this challenge.
“The rookies are fitting well into the system while the senior players are also showing a lot of quality and leadership, so I do not see anything stopping us.”
Zimbabwe won the COSAFA once in 2011, and this time they will be seeking to script another piece of history in the tournament.
South Africa are the record seven-time winners, with the only other teams to lift the trophy being Zambia (2022, 2024), East African guest nation Tanzania (2021) and Malawi (2023).
The COSAFA tourney has undoubtedly become a catalyst for the success of national teams from the region and their players.
Players who include Temwa Chawinga, who is excelling in the National Women’s Soccer League in the United States with Kansas City, Barbra Banda and South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana were catapulted to the spotlight by featuring in the COSAFA.
Zimbabweans Emmaculate Msipa, Rutendo Makore and Rudo Neshamba also used the COSAFA as a launchpad to the professional game.
While Makore and Neshamba are now back in the domestic league, Msipa, who is currently on the books of TP Mazembe, has previously played in the Turkish and Israeli leagues.
“With a new crop of players on our team, obviously we are fascinated to see which stars of tomorrow could emerge at this year’s tournament.
“Every coach wants their players to succeed, and for us as Zimbabwe there has not been a lot of movement abroad for our players.
“As we work to revive our game and reclaim our image as a powerhouse, we look forward to such moves to place our name as Zimbabwe on the world map.”
