Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, [email protected]
THE Mighty Warriors kick off their 2025 Cosafa Cup Women’s Championship against Mozambique at Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa today.
Recent heavy rains in the Eastern Cape forced venue changes for the tournament. The opening Group A matches were played at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where South Africa beat Namibia 1-0 and Eswatini thrashed Seychelles 6-0.
Eswatini’s Tenanile Ngcamphalala scored the tournament’s first hat-trick, with captain Celiwe Nkambule netting two goals and Nokuthula Ndlovu adding one.
Due to water damage, games will shift from Gelvandale Stadium to Isaac Wolfson Stadium from Wednesday.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is pre-booked for other events and Madibaz Stadium will also host matches.
The semi-finals and final remain at Isaac Wolfson Stadium on October 31 October and November 2.
Zimbabwe, drawn in Group D with Mozambique and Lesotho, face Mozambique today and Lesotho on October 27.
The group winners and best placed runner up from Groups A, B and C will qualify for the semi-finals.
Mighty Warriors captain, Nobukhosi Ncube, expressed satisfaction with the team’s preparations.
“Our combinations are working well and adaptation to training has been smooth,” she said.
The Mighty Warriors are led by Sithethelelwe Sibanda who is assisted by Primrose Serima and Onai Chingawo. Debra Green is the team manager and Margaret Maulana is the team doctor.
South Africa has won seven of the previous 11 Cosafa Women’s Championships. Zimbabwe (2011), Tanzania (2021) and Zambia (2022) also lifted the trophy.
Cosafa will expand Video Assistant Referee (VAR) usage to nine fixtures, including the final round of group games.
Mighty Warriors Squad:
Goalkeepers: Vanessa Lunga, Cynthia Shonga, Precious Mudyiwa
Defenders: Egness Tumbare, Purity Mugayi, Shelila Antonio, Nobukhosi Ncube, Alice Moyo
Midfielders: Morelife Nyagumbo, Ennety Chenhere, Kaitano, Peacemore Kenende, Natasha Ndowa, Shyline DambaMuromo, Nadia Semba, Edeline Mutumbami, Tanyaradzwa Chihoro, Patience Ndlovu
Forwards: Ethel Chinyerere, Maudy Mafuruse, Priviledge Mupeti, Christabel Katona, Mitshell John
— @innocentskizoe
Online Reporter