THE Zimbabwe senior women’s national football team, the Mighty Warriors, made a triumphant return to the regional stage yesterday, securing a clinical 2-0 victory over Eswatini in their opening Group B match of the 2026 Cosafa Women’s Championship yesterday.
Held at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa, the match saw the Zimbabweans overcome a lack of competitive match fitness to claim three vital points.
Despite the domestic league being in its off-season, the Mighty Warriors showed superior tactical discipline and clinical finishing to dismantle an Eswatini side that had been active in recent months.
The breakthrough came in the 38th minute when striker Praynance Zvawanda found the back of the net, rewarding Zimbabwe’s early dominance and easing the nerves of the traveling supporters.
Zimbabwe carried that momentum into the second half, and it didn’t take long for the lead to be doubled.
Veteran forward Rutendo Makore proved that class is permanent, scoring early in the second stanza to effectively kill off the contest.
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While the strikers grabbed the goals, it was the industrious performance of Christabel Katona in the middle of the park that stole the show; she was deservedly named Player of the Match for her two assists, creative spark and defensive cover.
Speaking after the final whistle, head coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda expressed satisfaction with the result while acknowledging the rustiness associated with the off-season.
“I am happy with the result,” she said.
“Getting the three points is a positive thing for us.
“It was a good game, but it's only game number one.
“There are a lot of positives, and again, there are lots of things we really need to work on before the second match.”
Sibanda emphasised the importance of the win given the context of their preparation: “For me, getting three points from a team which has been playing competitive football in their country while we are on an off-season break is a big positive.”
This victory solidifies Zimbabwe’s historical dominance over Eswatini, improving their head-to-head record to four wins in seven meetings. More importantly, it provides a massive confidence boost ahead of a gruelling Group B schedule that includes Zambia and Botswana.
With the top spot in the group guaranteeing a semi-final berth, the Mighty Warriors have successfully navigated the first hurdle.
By securing three points early, the pressure eases slightly as they prepare for a potential group decider against the Copper Queens of Zambia.
The team will complete the group stages against Botswana.