Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Mighty Warriors will be hoping to complete their COSAFA Cup Group B games on a positive note when they face Botswana this afternoon at Old Peter Mokaba.
Kick off is 12 noon.
After collecting four points from their Eswatini and Zambia outings, Zimbabwe are almost through to the semi-finals.
Currently they are second in the group log standings, tied on four points with Zambia who have a superior goal difference.
If Zimbabwe win today, (provided Zambia lose against Eswatini), they go top of the group and qualify for the semis.
If both the Mighty Warriors and Zambian Copper Queens win, the former need to score more goals to finish top.
However, even if they score fewer goals, an outright win will take them through to the second round as the overall best runner-up.
Head coach Sithethelelwe Sibanda reckons that while Zimbabwe already have an advantage based on results from the other groups, they still need to avoid defeat.
All the groups’ decider matches will be played this afternoon.
“All the groups are still open so coming into this one, we need to put our best foot forward to grab a win and ensure we are through,” she said.
“Based on the results so far, we are the best overall runner-up, and this places us in a better position, but we do not need to put ourselves under pressure.”
For a side that exited the last edition of the regional tournament in the group stages, Zimbabweans have raised their hopes this time.
And that makes today’s match all-important for coach Sibanda and her girls.
The Mighty Warriors are aware of that and will leave nothing to chance when they come up against Botswana.
“A lot is at stake, although we are almost in the knock-out stage, so we do not want to leave anything to chance, we have to treat the game as a Cup final,” said the coach.
“There is no room for complacency, this is a message that we will keep emphasising to the girls.
“After collecting four points from the first two games, they are excited and motivated hence the need to remind them of our mission.”
With Sibanda in a re-build for the future, making it past group stages also saves as a testimony that the gaffer is already laying a sturdy foundation.
Rival coaches in the tournament agree that Zimbabwe are no longer an underdog.
Coming into the tournament, the Mighty Warriors have a clear tactical identity which Sibanda continues to experiment with formations and personnel.
Sibanda, relying on local talent who are not up to full fitness, they have shown grit — such as in the goalless draw against Zambia.
With a defined style of play and reliable goal-scoring options in Rutendo Makore, Ethel Chinyerere, Praynance Zvawanda and youngster Anita Ncube, Sibanda has a good pool for selection.
“When we played Zambia we made some tactical changes to save energy because of our fitness levels . . . ,we had to balance it to protect our point in that game and also prepare for Botswana fixture considering its importance,” she said.
The Mighty Warriors only won the COSAFA Cup once in 2011 before missing slightly, managing silver medals in 2002 and 2017, both times closely losing to South Africa in identical 2-1 score lines. This time, they are determined to bag gold.
