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South Africa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Zimbabwe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
The Mighty Warriors played out a goalless draw against South Africa in their opening match of the African Women’s Cup of Nations in Yaounde last night.
Hosts Cameroon, who are in the same group with the Mighty Warriors, had beaten Egypt 2-0 in the earlier match in front of a crowd that included Cameroon’s President Paul Biya and national football legend Samuel Eto’o.
Banyana Banyana were favourites to beat the Mighty Warriors but Shadreck Mlauzi’s girls were a disciplined lot throughout the match.
Neither side took control in the first half of the match, and after a poor start, the majority of the half was played out in the midfield.
In a half of few chances, one of the better efforts was a long-range shot by Zimbabwe which South Africa keeper Andile Dlamani did well to save after diving to her left.
At the other end, Thembi Kgatlana should have done better when she broke into the area but she put a tame shot wide of the target.
South African substitute Jermaine Seoposenwe should have done better with a cross that she put over the bar.
Zimbabwe now trail Cameroon, who now top Group A, by two points
Earlier, hosts Cameroon opened their 2016 women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 2-0 victory over Egypt.
Both Aboudi Onguene and captain Manie Chrisitine struck gold to give the Indomitable Lionesses a winning start.
The Lionesses put on the pressure as expected but failed to make their final balls into the area count, frequently finding the Egyptian defence.
However, they finally found a way through in the 23rd minute when a cross from Falone Meffoumetou from the right was met by the head of Aboudi Onguene whose glancing header beat the goalkeeper and went over the line off the post.
The second half started in the same vein as the first with Cameroon dominating and the hard tackling Egyptians were lucky not to get penalised for some rather tough challenges.
The hosts were eventually awarded a penalty when Njoya Ajara was fouled on the goal line.
Captain Manie Christine stepped up to take the spot-kick, sending the Egyptian goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 2-0. — BBC/Sports Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu