Mighty Warriors final squad out

Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
MIGHTY Warriors coach Sithethelelwe Sibanda has picked her final squad for the 2025 Cosafa Cup Women’s Championships in South Africa this week while expressing confidence the team will excel in the competition.

The Mighty Warriors depart for Port Elizabeth on Tuesday before they date Mozambique on Thursday at 3pm.

On October 27, they will play Lesotho as they fight to proceed to the second round of the regional competition.

The group winner, along with other top finishers from Group A, B and C, will qualify for the semi-finals.

The 14-team tournament is scheduled for Gqeberha, South Africa between October 22 and November 2.

Dominated by local-based players, the 29-player squad boasts of Cynthia Shonga and Peacemore Kenende, who both play for South Africa women’s side Richmond United.

Coach, Sibanda, is confident heading into the competition.

“Everything is going on well. There is a lot of progression in terms of preparations. The players are showing loads of commitment. The work rate is high. We are working on all aspects of the game. The adaption and commitment from the team is good. We are now focusing on match-oriented tactics looking at the teams that we are going to be playing,” said Sibanda.

Forward, Kudakwashe Basopo is looking forward to the tournament.

“Having been here before, I still have an idea of what it is like to be in this competition but I am aware that I still have to work hard for a position in the team,” she said.

“I am working hard to ensure that the experience I acquired over the years is an added advantage to the team,” said Basopo.

Cosafa is set to use Video Assistant Referees (VAR). There will be more matches covered than last year.

Last year Cosafa used VAR from the semi-finals’ onwards, but this time will extend that to the final round of group games too, making it nine fixtures that will have the system in place. The hope is that next year it will be all games, but for now, there are not enough certified referees in the region to do that, something Cosafa is working hard to change.

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, Daisy 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.