Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
MIGHTY Warriors coach Stella Gotal said her girls are in excellent shape to mount a challenge that can overturn their 0-2 deficit in the 2028 Olympics qualifier return match against Malawi at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.
Zimbabwe lost the first leg at the Bingu National Stadium last Friday and they have to bring their A-Game to smash that out if they are to proceed to the next round of the Los Angeles Games qualifiers.
Gotal is playing her cards close to her chest but she did indicate that she will change both personnel and tact for this afternoon’s decider.
The Croat gaffer deployed an ultra defensive system at Bingu last week and that in a way backfired with the defenders making two costly mistakes that resulted in the two goals.
But she still managed to show her tactical masterpiece in the second half when not only neutralising Malawi but outplaying them in some key phases of the game.
She could be drawing positivity from that solid second half showing from Lilongwe as the girls step into the crucial game this afternoon.
It’s most likely that she will go for attack, if not ultra attack, tweaking her formation from the first leg to get a result.
Striker Praynance Zvawanda is unavailable for selection after she sat out yesterday’s final training session at the match venue with a knee issue.
She suffered the knock in the first half of the contest in Malawi that forced Gotal to make a quick change bringing on Rutendo Makore whom she also substituted towards the end of the fixture.
“I’m really happy with the girls,” said Gotal.
“Yes, we have some new faces, some players who already have experience playing for the national team, the chemistry in the team is really good.
“The atmosphere is positive, and somehow when you want to build something, maybe this is the crucial thing. Because if you have people in the camp who are not happy, it’s difficult to work with them. But I can say that this group is very motivated, very positive, very excited.
“I’m really happy with their characteristics, with their personalities, but I’m also happy with their qualities that hopefully they will show tomorrow(today).”
Even after her team lost the reverse tie through the Chawinga sisters Temwa and Tabitha, who got the goals, Gotal said she will not be placing special emphasis on them.
“I would like to say that we play against Malawi, not against the Chawinga sisters. Why? Because, yes, they are very good players, and their value in terms of African players is maybe the highest. I can tell you now, I didn’t speak about this before, but you can find everything now.
“Temwa, her market value is 1 million. Tabitha, her market value is 850,000. So definitely, if their value is that big, it means they are very good players. They have good speed, they have good quality.
“But let’s not forget that Malawi also has other good players,” added Gotal.
“They have a player who plays in France for Montpellier, no one speaks about her. They have a player who plays for BK Häcken, who compete in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. So that’s why I’m saying, yes, maybe we will prepare certain tactics on how to stop the Chawinga sisters.
“But also, we want our team to work, because someone needs to play and pass the ball to them in the end. And I will always say, we play against the team, not only against two people.”
Around 10 000 fans are expected to attend this fixture after CAF reversed their ban initially placed on the stadium due to the chaotic scenes that resulted in the death of a fan three weeks ago during the 2027 AFCON qualifier between Zimbabwe and DRC.
Malawi coach Lovemore Fazili said the Scorchers are in Zimbabwe not just to defend their lead but win the game.
“Actually, if you look at where we are coming from, we are underdogs. Malawi was nowhere on the map. But small things change in life.
“Our lifestyle changes as well. We tried to assemble this team almost five years ago. If I remember, in 2003, I think, we went to South Africa for COSAFA.
“We were the champions. That was the starting point of good things to come for Malawi. So yes, people are talking now, we are underdogs.
“We are not giants. We are not there yet. We used to respect Zimbabwe as well.
“We are not there yet. I’m trying to put the team on the map. And most of it is discipline.
“Discipline is paramount for the players. If the players are not disciplined, I think there is nothing for my team to do with football. So I have good players, and I also have disciplined players,” said Fazili
“We are not here to defend but we are here to defend.
“We are here to win the game and finish off Zimbabwe.”
