adminZimbabwe Under-20 women’s soccer team clash with the Falconets at the MKO Abiola Stadium at 5pm as the teams battle for the two African tickets on offer for the showpiece to be held in Japan this August.
A third and final qualifying round beckons for the team which will win the second round, and Giwa is confident that his charges will do enough to remain competitive ahead of the reverse fixture in Harare in two weeks time.
The Mufakose Queens gaffer has stuck with the team which did duty in Maputo three weeks ago and he is meeting the West African giants for the second time.
Assistant coach Sithethelile “Kwinji 15” Sibanda, a former Mighty Warriors player, was involved in duels against the Nigerians a number of times and on all occasions the Zimbabweans played second fiddle.
“It is a 50-50 match and not a David and Goliath affair because we believe this time we are prepared for them and we will match them.
“If we fail, we should get a scoring draw otherwise we should win this match.
“They are physically big and have height but we will counter that with our passing game. In the opening minutes we will sit back and absorb before we go all out to attack,” said Giwa.
The coach was also hoping that the overcast conditions will remain until Match Day.
The Falconets would be playing their first match in these qualifiers after their first round opponents Sierra Leone withdrew.
They had a bye in the preliminary round.
And the Young Mighty Warriors squad, a newly assembled team following the graduation of the bulk of the players into the senior team, has played a number of competitive matches.
As part of their build up for these qualifiers, the team played South Africa in Johannesburg and lost 4-0 in a warm-up match and the developmental side then met neighbours Mozambique in the first round and won 7-0.
But all this opposition is different from the African powerhouse they will meet today but their coach feels they have been working hard and improving with each passing day.
“We have been in camp for the past three weeks and I would say our team has really improved from the last match or our first match when we were just assembling a new team.
“We have been working and the players now understand each other and have better rhythm.
“I am confident all this should work in our favour,” said Giwa.
The team is not short on experience with strikers Rudo Neshamba and Rutendo Makore, midfielders Emmaculate Msipa and Elizabeth Chaparangana and defenders
Eunice Chibanda and Danai Bhobho not new to the terrain as they are part of the Mighty Warriors squad which won the Cosafa Cup last year and qualified for the All-Africa Games.
These players were also part of the squad which met Nigeria in 2010 in the same World Cup qualifiers and were humiliated 6-0 at home before another 2-0 away defeat here.
But the players feel that is history and forward Makore said they have never been this prepared and ready.
Goalkeeper Portia Mukucha will again guard goal with captain Chibanda leading the first line of defence together with Faith Chasi on the left while Bhobho and Rhoda Jongondi would be twin centrebacks.
In the middle of the park Mufakose Queens’ midfielder Emmaculate Msipa is expected to provide the leadership with teenager Mavis Chirandu and Chaparangana on the wings.
The seasoned strikeforce of Neshamba and Makore will be seeking to breach the Falconets defence and score an important away goal, which could be vital in the reverse fixture.
The hosts are relaxed and confident that the match is a walkover and the visitors, since arrival here, were told by fans that Nigeria was going to post a comprehensive win.
And after the Zambia Under-17 women’s soccer side were last week demolished 5-0 as Nigeria clinched another World Cup ticket, there is an air of superiority in the hosts’ camp.
Zimbabwe Team
Portia Mukucha, Eunice Chibanda, Faith Chasi, Rhoda Jongondi, Danai Bhobho, Emmaculate Msipa, Elizabeth Chaparangana, Maggie Moyo, Rutendo Makore, Rudo Neshamba, Mavis Chirandu.
Online Reporter