The Zimbabwe women’s national football team is scheduled to face Eswatini on Thursday in the opening match of their 2023 COSAFA Women’s Championship campaign. The match will mark the start of the tournament for both nations, who are competing in Group B.
Sithethelelwe Sibanda, the head coach of the Zimbabwean team, known as the Mighty Warriors, stated that the squad has prepared for the regional tournament. In comments made prior to the team’s departure, Sibanda outlined the team’s status and objectives for the competition.
“We are ready for the tournament,” Sibanda said in a statement released by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA). “We are going there to compete.”
The COSAFA Women’s Championship is an annual tournament for national teams from the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations. Zimbabwe was drawn into Group B alongside Zambia, Botswana, and the host nation, Eswatini. According to the tournament’s structure, only the top team from each of the three groups is guaranteed a place in the semifinals. The best-performing second-place team from across all groups will also advance to the knockout stage.
The Zimbabwean delegation for the tournament includes a squad of players selected by the coaching staff. The final roster features a combination of experienced players and individuals receiving their first call-up to the senior national team.
Historically, Zimbabwe has been a regular participant in the COSAFA Women’s Championship. The team won the tournament in 2011 and has reached the final on several other occasions. Their performance in this year’s opening match will factor into their standing in a competitive group that includes Zambia, the defending champions.
The Group B match between Zimbabwe and Eswatini is scheduled to take place at a venue in Eswatini on Thursday afternoon, with the final tournament schedule confirmed by COSAFA organizers. Following the opener, Zimbabwe is slated to play against Botswana and Zambia to conclude the group stage fixtures.
