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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’s Mighty Warriors are ready to face their Namibian opponents in this afternoon’s Africa Women Cup of Nations first round qualifier in Windhoek.
The second leg is set for Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
In an interview from Windhoek, Namibia yesterday, Mighty Warriors’ coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda said their camp had no complaints and was looking forward to the encounter against the Brave Gladiators.
“We are all set to go, no complaints,” she said.
Despite the loss of chief striker Rutendo Makore who failed to recover from an ankle injury, Sibanda said she remained confident that the players called up to camp will rise to the occasion.
She said their objective in Namibia will be to avoid conceding so as not to put pressure on themselves ahead of the return leg. “We need to try as much as possible to avoid conceding in Namibia and also if possible we should get ourselves an away goal which will indeed ease our chances of going through,” she said before departure on Tuesday.
The winner of the two legged qualifiers is set to meet either Zambia or Tanzania in the second and final round of qualifiers for the final tournament to be played in Ghana from November 17 to December 1 this year.
Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Cameroon and South Africa have been given a bye in the first round to the second round.
Nigeria are the defending African champions following their triumph in the 2016 edition held in Cameroon.
The eight-team continental tournament in Ghana will also serve as a qualification tournament for Women’s World Cup finals to be hosted by France in 2019.
Mighty Warriors squad
Goalkeepers: Chido Dzingirai (Correctional Queens), Manyara Mandara (Mwenezana Queens)
Defenders: Nobuhle Majika (Inline Academy), Nobukhosi Ncube (New Orleans Queens), Sheila Makoto (Blue Swallows Queens), Lynett Mutokuto (Black Rhinos Queens), Edline Mutumbami (Blue Swallows Queens),
Midfielders: Talent Mandaza © (Black Rhinos Queens), Daisy Kaitano (Black Rhinos Queens), Marjory Nyaumwe (Correctional Queens), Emmaculate Msipa (Black Rhinos Queens), Mavis Chirandu (Black Rhinos Queens). Felistas Muzongondi (Black Rhinos Queens), Berita Kabwe (Correctional Queens)
Strikers: Maudy Mafuruse (Faith Drive Queens), Susan Nyama (Herentals Queens), Erina Jeke (Correctional Queens), Vimbai Mharadzi (Blue Swallows Queens).
@skhumoyo2000.
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