THE Zimbabwe senior women’s national football team, the Mighty Warriors, are raring to go toe-to-toe with arch-rivals and hosts Zambia in a mouthwatering final of the Four Nations Tournament in Ndola today.
Ahead of the blockbuster regional derby, Kenya and Lesotho will battle it out in the third and fourth-place play-off.
Zimbabwe booked their spot in the final following a vintage second-half performance on Saturday, dismantling a stubborn Lesotho side 3-1 courtesy of goals from Emmaculate Msipa, Ethel Chinyerere, and lethal forward Rutendo Makore.
Zambia, on the other hand, had to endure a tense penalty shootout to edge past Kenya 4-1 after a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time.
While the Mighty Warriors are high on confidence, head coach Sithethelelwe Sibanda is fully aware of the massive threat posed by a highly evolved Zambian side.
Speaking ahead of the titanic clash, Sibanda noted that tactical familiarity will play a huge role, given how well the two neighbours know each other.
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“We came prepared to play two matches, so we are looking forward to the game. We are looking forward to once again getting that opportunity to expose ourselves against Zambia in the finals,” she said.
“As we have played them before, now we know how they play. Right now, I think we pretty much know how Zambia plays, and they pretty much know how we play. So, we know each other very well. We are expecting a tough game as always.”
Zambia’s squad boasts immense quality, anchored by several high-profile overseas-based stars like Racheal Kundananji and Barbra Banda.
Rather than being intimidated, Sibanda believes this is the ultimate litmus test that will mentally elevate her players.
“Zambia is a very good side, probably maybe above five to 10 foreign-based players,” Sibanda said.
“So, for our players, it is good to really face people, players that play in top leagues. Mentally, I think it is going to motivate them to play against a side like that. It is really motivating to say, Okay, even if they play at whatever level, we can manage to compete against them. So it will be motivating for the girls.”
Reflecting on the history of the fixture, Sibanda acknowledged a poignant shift in power. There was a time when Zimbabwe ruled the roost in this rivalry — a golden era she was personally part of.
However, she credited the Football Association of Zambia for transforming its women’s game through deliberate funding and structure, while highlighting where Zimbabwe fell behind.
“We once dominated Zambia. By the way, it was during my playtime. But I must give credit to the Zambia FA,” the coach reflected.
“You know, back then we used to have our national powerhouses. But I think Zambia did very well in going back to the drawing board and investing in the development of its women’s game. So they’ve done very well in that regard.
She said Zimbabwe lost a bit in terms of continuing with development.
“Hence, you see other nations, who used to be lower-ranked in women’s football, have developed because they invested in their women’s game and leagues. For example, if you look at the Zambian league, it is very competitive. So, with players playing in such a league, and others playing outside Zambia, they now have a strong team built with so much investment in it.”
Despite the acknowledged gap in structural investment, 90 minutes of football is a clean slate. With Zimbabwe hunting for silverware and Zambia riding on the wave of a passionate home crowd, tonight's final promises to be an absolute thriller. Under Sibanda’s tactical guidance, the Mighty Warriors are ready to leave it all on the pitch.