Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze [email protected]
THE Zimbabwe senior women’s football side, Mighty Warriors are down to serious business, intensifying their preparations for the upcoming Four-Nations-Tournament scheduled for Zambia next month.
Hosts Zambia, Kenya and Burkina Faso were expected to battle it out with Zimbabwe for silverware before the East Africans (Burkina Faso) pulled out of the tournament.
Zimpapers Sport understands that Ghana have expressed interest to be part of the tournament, taking the number of participating teams back to four.
The first wave of the provisional squad stepped into camp yesterday while others should get settled today and tomorrow with the quiet start to the tournament expected to yield happy endings for Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe Football Association vice-president Loveness Mukura who is responsible for women football revealed that Mighty Warriors’ preparations are progressing well with travel logistics already in the final stages.
“We are happy to inform the nation that our local contingent started reporting for camp yesterday while others will be in today as we start to technically prepare for the tournament,” she said.
“Exact dates are yet to be set because we first needed to ascertain if it is going to be a four or three nations tournament to allow for proper planning in terms of the format to be used for the games.”
Training begins this afternoon and the early arrivals allow the technical team to shape the squad before their final selection.
The Mighty Warriors will be without captain Nobukhosi Ncube after the skipper picked a knee injury last year at the COSAFA, and has been on the sidelines to date.
Most of the players who did duty at the last COSAFA edition are expected to feature at the Zambian tournament with Praynance Zvawanda, Rutendo Makore, Privilege Mupeti, Anita Ncube and Bethel Kondo expected to score goals for Zimbabwe.
With Ethel Chinyerere having moved to Zambian top-flight’s Green Buffalo recently, she is expected to join the team in Zambia.
Coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda will also be with her international based stars for the first time in years.
Emmaculate Msipa comes in from T.P Mazembe to be handed back the armband while Ruvimbo Marechera will be joining the team from Israel.
Mukura said the tournament will serve as the best platform for local players to be together with their international based team mates.
This gives the coaches an early look into the squad and allows them time to build up for the 2028 LA Olympic Qualifiers pencilled for October against Malawi.
“This preliminary phase affords the selected players at least one to five days to show their readiness, sharpness and tactical suitability,” said Mukura.
She notes that the bigger picture for the Mighty Warriors is the Olympic Qualifiers where Zimbabwe will be hoping for a second appearance at the prestigious showcase.
“Women’s teams barely get a lot of tournaments to participate, world over the women’s game is underfunded hence we always have limited opportunities to compete and gain exposure,” added Mukura.
“When such opportunities avail, we always put in all the effort to ensure that our team participates, especially with the bigger picture that we are looking at as Mighty Warriors.
“As ZIFA, we are working round the clock to ensure that we give them the best support that we can because this is the only way we can get the best out of them.
“While we are looking forward to silverware from the Four-Nations-Tournament, we are hopeful of another appearance at the Olympics hence our full commitment in supporting the team.”
The last time the Mighty Warriors featured at the Three-Nations-Tournament was in December 2025 when they played against eventual winners Zambia and third placed Malawi while Zimbabwe emerged as the silver medalists.
Provisional Squad
Delight Matigwene (Chapungu); Vanessa Lunga (Platinum Royals); Cynthia Shonga (Herentals); Egness Tumbare
(Correctional Queens); Sheila Antonio (Chapungu); Fiona Kabera (Black Rhinos; Nokukhanya Ndlovu (Platinum Royals); Melinda Mapasure (Faith Drive); Macgirl Sipini (Harare City); Thandekile Mandaba (Correctional Queens); Ennert Chemhere (Platinum Royals); Daisy Kaitano (Black Rhinos); Shyline Dambamuromo (Herentals); Bridget Mutaurwa (Herentals); Emmaculate Msipa (TP Mazembe); Christabel Katona (Black Rhinos); Bethel Kondo (Herentals); Ethel Chinyerere (Green Buffaloes); Rutendo Makore (Black Rhinos); Praynance Zvawanda (Herentals); Anita Ncube (Kwekwe Queens); Ruvimbo Marechera (Unattached)
