adminThe Mighty Warriors lifted the Unity Day Cup Trophy on December 22 when they dismissed Olympic Games-bound South Africa at Rufaro.
But the team is not getting any rest as they bid to qualify for the women’s version of the Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Equatorial Guinea.
Zimbabwe have been drawn against Botswana in the preliminary round and will be playing their neighbours away in Gaborone on January 14.
And if they negotiate their way past Botswana, the Mighty Warriors will meet record Africa Cup of Nations champions and last year’s World Cup finalists Nigeria in the last qualifying round.
And coach Rosemary Mugadza, seeking to book a place at the tournament to be staged in October, is working on having a well-oiled outfit that should hold its own against African powerhouses like Nigeria.
This coming Saturday in Blantyre, the Mighty Warriors meet a Malawi side that will be out to avenge an 8-2 drubbing they suffered against Zimbabwe in the group stages of the Cosafa Championships in July.
Mugadza has named a 26-member squad, making one change to the team which was in camp for the Unity Day Cup.
Mighty Warriors striker Rufaro Machingura, who won the Cosafa Golden Boot award after scoring eight goals in the tournament which was won by the hosts Zimbabwe, is back into the team after falling out of favour due to disciplinary issues.
The striker last played for Zimbabwe at the All-Africa Games in Maputo in September and did not report for camp when the team was preparing to go to Egypt for the Arab Cup in November.
However, Machingura, who became a darling of the fans during the Cosafa Championships when she bagged in five goals in a single match against Malawi and went on to score the winning goal in the final match against Banyana Banyana of South Africa, should prepare herself for a tough competition in the team’s strike force.
In her absence, Black Rhinos forward Rutendo “Madzimai” Makore graduated into the senior team and scored in her first match against Egypt in Cairo in November.
The bustling striker was also on target as Zimbabwe hammered South Africa 3-0 on Unity Day.
The former Mighty Warriors captain Mugadza said this weekend’s game against Malawi should set the tone for the tie against Botswana in Gaborone.
“We will get the preparation we need against Malawi. We thoroughly beat them during the Cosafa tournament but they played well and reached the semifinals.
“They are also preparing for the African qualifiers and it will not be an easy game. We are dwelling much on the strike force and you can see there was an improvement on the Unity Day match against South Africa.
“The competition is stiffer in this department than other areas and we are confident that by the time we engage Botswana in two week’s time the team would be solid,” said Mugadza.
Squad
Onai Chingawo (Mufakose Queens), Chido Dzingirai (Cyclone Stars), Portia Mukucha, Manyara Mandara (Cyclone), Eunice Chibanda (Aces Youth Academy), Ruvimbo Mutyavaviri (Mufakose), Patience Mujuru (Black Rhinos Queens), Danai Bhobho (Cyclone), Nobuhle Majika (Inline Academy), Lynette Mutokuto (Black Rhinos), Talent Mandaza (Black Rhinos), Emma Msipa (Mufakose), Tsitsi Mairosi (Cyclone), Nokuthula Ndlovu (New Orleans), Marjoury Nyaumwe (Aces), Sheila Makoto (Aces), Erina Jeke (Cyclone), Rufaro Machingura (Aces), Kuda Basopo (Black Rhinos), Panashe Masitara (Flame Lily), Rudo Neshamba (Inline), Samukeliswe Zulu (Inline), Violet Bepete, Locadia Mugavazi (Cosa Guruve), Rutendo Makore (Black Rhinos).
Online Reporter