Zimbabwe senior national women football team chief striker Rufaro Machingura will not travel to Egypt for the two international friendlies against that country’s senior women national team next week.
The Mighty Warriors, expected to leave for Cairo on Saturday afternoon, will play their matches on Tuesday and Saturday.
Team manager Charity Munemo on Wednesday said Machingura who burst into stardom during this year’s Cosafa Women Championships where she scooped the golden boot, did not report for camp on Sunday.
She said the gangly striker excused herself to attend to her mother who is not feeling well. Also, not travelling to Egypt is tough-tackling defender Nobuhle Magika who is reported to be in South Africa on personal business.
South Africa-based Marylene Magoroze also failed to report for camp.
Striker Rutendo Makore has been drafted into the squad to replace Machingura, while Locadia Mugavazi of COSA Guruve is expected to hold fort for Magika.
The team will be using the two friendly matches as preparations for the eighth edition of the CAF African Women’s Championships next year.
Zimbabwe has been drawn to play Botswana in the preliminary round with the winner set to meet defending champions Nigeria in the final qualifying round.
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The Confederation of African Football has offered Zimbabwe a chance to host the tournament, regarded as the women’s version of the Africa Cup of Nations. Zifa now awaits a government guarantee to host the games.
