Big win for Mighty Warriors counts for little Sithethelelwe Sibanda

Harare Bureau
Botswana 0-3 Zimbabwe
MIGHTY Warriors coach, Sithetheliwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda, says life has to go on after they were booted out of the Cosafa Women Championships, despite winning their last group match, at the Nelson Mandela Bay yesterday.

The Zimbabwe senior national women’s football team had a fine game against Botswana, winning 3-0, to finish on six points in Group B.

Striker Privilege Mupeti, who was voted the woman-of-the-match, thrust them into the lead in the 42nd minute. Skipper Emmaculate Msipa doubled the lead in the 65th minute.

And, Rudo Neshamba then ended the match as a contest, in the 83rd minute, when she scored her second goal, inside three days.

But the six points were not enough for the team, as they were overtaken as the temporary best runner-up, last night by Malawi.

The Malawians also finished with six points, in Group A, but with a superior goal difference over their Zimbabwean counterparts.

Malawi beat Angola 2-0 in their last Group A match. They will now have to wait, hoping the Group C decider between Zambia and Uganda this afternoon, will produce a result in their favour.

Zimbabwe scored five goals, and concede four, while Malawi scored six goals and conceded four.

Group B leaders, Tanzania, were the first team to book a place in the knockout round on Saturday.

Yesterday, the Twiga Stars beat South Sudan 3-0.

Hosts South Africa advanced to the semi-finals after beating Mozambique 3-1. On reflection, the Mighty Warriors will consider that narrow 2-1 win over South Sudan on Saturday, as the result which crushed their hopes.

Zambia have six points and Angola have four points.

The winner of this group joins Tanzania and South Africa in the last four.

Interestingly, should both teams draw, the Zambians will advance as the top team, with a superior goal difference, while Uganda with seven points, will progress as the best runners-up.

Should Zambia lose with a slender margin like 0-1, they will still qualify as the best runners-up, ahead of Malawi. For the second year running, the Mighty Warriors have crashed out in the group stages.

Last year the team bowed out of the tournament without a point or a goal to their credit.
Sibanda will, at least, have a starting point as she prepares for the Africa Women Cup of Nations (Awcon) qualifiers, later this month.

Zimbabwe face Eswatini in the first round.

“We were out of action for too long and we were using these matches to also work on our combinations,” she said.

“We are preparing for the Awcon qualifiers and these matches gave us a good run.

“Coming into this game, we knew we had to play to our strengths.”

Yesterday, the coach gave the third goalkeeper Lindiwe Magede a run.

She also introduced Natasha Ndowa and Maud Mafusire as substitutes.

Teams
Zimbabwe:  L. Magwede, S. Makoto, E. Tumbare, M. Mutumbami, N. Ncube, E. Msipa, M. Nyaumwe, S. Dambamuromo, M. Chirandu (N. Ndowa 86th min), P. Mupeti, R. Neshamba (M. Mafusire 86th min).
Botswana: L. Moeng, M. Montsho, K. Mochawe, B. Othlhagile, V. Mogotsi, M. Thanda, L. Gaofetoge, T. George, N. Mahlasela, G. Selebatso, R. Tholekele.

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