Tunisia…………………..(0) Zimbabwe……………(1) 1
Zimbabwe Senior national women football team could have done enough to win this year’s Arab Cup tournament after beating Tunisia at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday.
Prior to yesterday’s win, the Mighty Warriors who are playing in this year’s edition of the competition as special guests had drawn 2-2 with Egypt on Monday.
Zimbabwe now lead the three team log standings with four points after playing two matches while the hosts are on second position with one point, having played one match.
Pre-tournament favourites Tunisia, by virtue of their better position on the Fifa World rankings have so far failed to live to their high billing.
The seventh best ranked team in Africa are bottom on the log with no point and will be playing for nothing other than their pride when they engage neighbours Egypt for the final round of matches tomorrow.
Zimbabwe can win the tournament if the two North African neighbours cancel each other tomorrow. A win for Tunisia will also see the Cup going to Zimbabwe.
The hosts can win the competition if they beat Tunisia by two clear goals to better Zimbabwe’s superior goal tally.
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That feat however looks very daunting for the Mohammed Fathi coached Egyptian side who had to rely on the generosity of the referee to award them a last minute penalty to level matters against Zimbabwe on Monday.
The Mighty Warriors found themselves in a commanding position after a well taken goal by captain Tsitsi Mairosi, who met a calculated through pass from the ever impressive Merjury Nyaumwe to burry home from close range with only 10 minutes having played.
Zimbabwe dominated possesion from the onset, taking the game to their more fancied opponent who offered very little in resistance.
The Rosemary Mugadza coached side could have increased the lead in the 37th minute but Ruvimbo Mutyavaviri’s shot cannoned off the cross bar while second half substitute Erina Jeke thought she had done enough when she outpaced defenders before releasing a scorcher that beat the Tunisian goalkeeper Rabiaa Gargondo, only to bounce off the upright post.
Tunisia threatened in patches with their lanky centre forward Fatmah Mlaieh looked dangerous everytime she was in possesion.
Mugadza said, “It was a good tournament and a good experience for us as we are trying new combinations and building a team for the 2012 Africa Women Championship qualifiers. We have seen the areas were we need to work on. I was not impressed with the way the strikers played, they were not upto standard. All the goals we got here were from midfielders. We have to play at least two friendly matches before the qualifiers start.
Zimbabwe has been paired against Botswana in the preliminary round and the winner between the two neighbours will face off with African giants Nigeria in the first round.
Zimbabwe Line-up: C Dzingirai, R Mutyavaviri, E Chibanda, P Mujuru, D Bhobho, T Mandaza (E Msipa, 75mins), M Nyaumwe (R Makore, 90mins), T Mairosi, S Makoto, V Bepete (K Bhasopo, 65mins), R Neshamba (E Jeke, 65mins).
