adminMugadza saw her dream of qualifying for the women’s version of the African Cup of Nations vanquish after the Mighty Warriors bowed out 6-0 on aggregate.
They had been beaten 2-0 at Rufaro in the first leg and once they lost, it was a tall order for the Mighty Warriors to overturn that deficit against the seven time African Champions.
Predictably the Super Falcons did not relax despite carrying a 2-0 lead and had already found the target after six minutes of action in Lagos.
Mugadza said she had wanted the team to qualify for the Africa Cup Nations which would be held this November in Equatorial Guinea, but the team found the going tough after being drawn against the Super Falcons in the first and last qualifying round.
Veteran Perpetua Nkwocha, Desire Oparanozie, Esther Sunday and Stella Mbachu found the goals that set the Super Falcons on course to defend their title.
The Mighty Warriors had won 3-1 in the preliminary round against neighbours Botswana while Nigeria had a bye.
“It is the end of road for 2012 because we have lost the qualifiers which we wanted to win at all cost. We made too many blunders in the game and it cost us dearly with our new defender Viola Ndlovu who was playing on the right back letting us down.
“Nigeria played very well converting their chances while we did not play our normal game. The defenders failed to cope with the pace of the Nigerians and our midfielders Marjoury Nyaumwe and Felistas Muzongondi didn’t click,” said Mugadza.
Some credit should go to forward Rudo Neshamba and defensive midfielder Emmaculate Msipa who had a decent show.
Despite bowing out Mugadza paid tribute to the team which she believed achieved a lot in the last two years.
“I believe we have done well as the Mighty Warriors under a short period and we are still improving. If we had played any other team we would have qualified for the tournament and I can say we are among the best’’.
The former Mighty Warriors captain, who was in the team which participated in the first African Cup of Nations in South Africa in 2002 and reached the semi-finals where they were humiliated 0-6 by Nigeria felt Zimbabwe have improved against the West Africans.
Young Mighty Warriors also lost to Nigeria’s Under-20 side 0-6 on aggregate two months ago in the World Cup qualifiers and Falconets went on to qualify for the showpiece which would be held in Japan next month.
In their last encounter, in the 2008 World Cup qualifiers, Zimbabwe’s developmental side lost 0-10 on aggregate to the Falconets.
Online Reporter