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Zimbabwe women's national football team

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Zimbabwe national football team.

Zimbabwe
Nickname(s)Mighty Warriors
AssociationZimbabwe Football Association (ZFA)
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCOSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coachSithethelelwe Sibanda
CaptainNobukhosi Ncube
FIFA codeZIM
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 127 Decrease 3 (13 December 2024)[1]
Highest82 (December 2013)
Lowest128 (August 2022)
First international
 Zimbabwe 4–0 Lesotho 
(Harare, Zimbabwe; 30 July 2000)
Biggest win
 Zimbabwe 15–0 Lesotho 
(Harare, Zimbabwe; 19 April 2002)
Biggest defeat
 Nigeria 6–0 Zimbabwe 
(Johannesburg, South Africa; 21 November 2000)
African Women's Championship
Appearances4 (first in 1991)
Best result4th (2000)
Summer Olympics
Appearances1 (first in 2016)
Best result12th (2016)

The Zimbabwe women's national football team represents Zimbabwe in international football. It is controlled by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZFA), the governing body for football in Zimbabwe.

The team represented Zimbabwe at the 2016 Summer Olympics, making it the fourth African country to qualify for the tournament, where they were eliminated in the group stage.[2]

History

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Similar to the men's team, the team is known as the "Mighty Warriors", [3] the Zimbabwe women's national team was established in 1991, making it one of the earliest women's national teams on the African continent. They were scheduled to compete in the inaugural African Women's Championship in 1991 but withdrew before the tournament. Their first official match was a 5–2 victory over South Africa in a friendly at FNB Stadium, serving as a curtain-raiser for the men's match between Bafana and Holland.[4]

The team played its first African Women's Championship qualifiers in 2000 against Lesotho, winning 8–0 on aggregate over two legs to qualify for their first continental competition. In Group A, the team drew with Uganda, defeated Réunion 2–1, and lost to South Africa 3–0, advancing to their first-ever semifinals. After losing the next two knockout matches, the team finished fourth.[5]

In 2002, the country hosted the inaugural regional COSAFA Women's Championship. During their first campaign, they topped Group A, recording their biggest win, a 15–0 victory over Lesotho. Another dominant performance, an 11–1 win against Mozambique, saw Zimbabwe reach their first final.[6]

Sixteen years after their first match, Zimbabwe won their first regional title and trophy at the 2011 COSAFA Women's Championship on home soil, defeating three-time defending champions South Africa 1–0 in the final.[7]

After failing to qualify for the Olympics on two occasions, the Mighty Warriors secured their ticket to the 2016 Summer Olympics through the 2015 CAF Women's Olympic qualifying tournament. They defeated rivals Zambia, received a walkover against Ivory Coast, and then triumphed over Cameroon with a 2–2 aggregate score, advancing on away goals. It became the first team, either men's or women's from the country to qualify for the Olympics.[8] In their first tournament, they were defeated in all their matches against Australia, Canada, and Germany, but they were able to score in each of the three games.[9]

Results and fixtures

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The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2024

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24 October 2024 (2024-10-24) 2024 COSAFA WC GS Mozambique  1–0  Zimbabwe Ibhayi, South Africa
17:00 UTC+2 Aurora 18' Report Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium
Referee: Vistoria Nuusiku Shangula (Namibia)
27 October 2024 (2024-10-27) 2024 COSAFA WC GS Zimbabwe  3–0  Lesotho Gqeberha, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2
Report Stadium: Madibaz Stadium
Referee: Vistoria Nuusiku Shangula (Namibia)

2025

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17–26 February 2025 (2025-02) 2026 WAFCON qualifying Angola  v  Zimbabwe Angola
--:-- UTC+1
17–26 February 2025 (2025-02) 2026 WAFCON qualifying Zimbabwe  v  Angola TBD
--:-- UTC+2

Players

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See also: Category:Zimbabwe women's international footballers

Current squad

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The following is the squad called up for the 2024 COSAFA Women's Championship named on 19 October 2024.[10]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1 1GK Precious Mudyiwa (1998-02-02)2 February 1998 (aged 26) Zimbabwe Black Rhinos Queens
16 1GK Vanessa Lunga (1994-06-16)16 June 1994 (aged 30) Zimbabwe Chapungu Queens
22 1GK Cynthia Shonga (2000-06-18)18 June 2000 (aged 24) South Africa Richmond United
2 2DF Purity Mugayi (1998-12-15)15 December 1998 (aged 25) Zimbabwe Black Rhinos Queens
4 2DF Egness Tumbare (1993-07-31)31 July 1993 (aged 31) Zimbabwe Herentals Queens
5 2DF Shiela Antonio (1999-08-27)27 August 1999 (aged 25) Zimbabwe Chapungu Queens
9 2DF Nobukhosi Ncube (Captain) (1993-02-17)17 February 1993 (aged 31) Zimbabwe Chapungu Queens
21 2DF Alice Moyo (1993-03-26)26 March 1993 (aged 31) Zimbabwe Herentals Queens
3 3MF Edline Mutumbami (1996-10-13)13 October 1996 (aged 28) Zimbabwe Chapungu Queens
7 3MF Tanyaradzwa Chihoro (2004-12-01)1 December 2004 (aged 19) Zimbabwe Maningi Soccer Academy
8 3MF Morelife Nyagumbo (2005-02-09)9 February 2005 (aged 19) Zimbabwe Faith Drive Academy
10 3MF Ennety Chemhere (2002-10-19)19 October 2002 (aged 22) Zimbabwe Platinum Royals
11 3MF Daisy Kaitano (1995-07-04)4 July 1995 (aged 29) Zimbabwe Black Rhinos Queens
12 3MF Nadia Semba (2006-03-18)18 March 2006 (aged 18) Zimbabwe Correctional Queens
15 3MF Peacemore Kenende (1997-03-03)3 March 1997 (aged 27) South Africa Richmond United
19 3MF Shyline Dambamuromo (2000-04-04)4 April 2000 (aged 24) Zimbabwe Herentals Queens
20 3MF Natasha Ndowa (1998-01-03)3 January 1998 (aged 26) Zimbabwe Chapungu Queens
23 3MF Patience Ndlovu (2006-02-10)10 February 2006 (aged 18) Zimbabwe Highlanders Royals
6 4FW Mitchell John (2005-09-14)14 September 2005 (aged 19) Zimbabwe Harare City Queens
13 4FW Christabel Katona (1999-02-13)13 February 1999 (aged 25) Zimbabwe Black Rhinos Queens
14 4FW Ethel Chinyerere (1996-06-12)12 June 1996 (aged 28) Zimbabwe Chapungu Queens
17 4FW Priviledge Mupeti (1997-09-29)29 September 1997 (aged 27) Zimbabwe Black Rhinos Queens
18 4FW Maudy Mafuruse (1999-04-24)24 April 1999 (aged 25) Zimbabwe Herentals Queens

Previous squads

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Olympic Games
Africa Women Cup of Nations
COSAFA Women's Championship

Competitive record

[edit]

FIFA Women's World Cup

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FIFA Women's World Cup record Qualification record
Host nation(s)
and year 		Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA Squad Outcome Pld W D L GF GA
China 1991 Withdrew Withdrew
Sweden 1995 Did not enter Did not enter
United States 1999
United States 2003 Did not qualify The 2002 African Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament
China 2007 Withdrew Withdrew
Germany 2011 Did not enter Did not enter
Canada 2015 Did not qualify The 2014 African Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament
France 2019 Did not qualify The 2018 Women's Africa Cup of Nations served as the qualifying tournament
AustraliaNew Zealand 2023 Did not qualify The 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations served as the qualifying tournament
Brazil 2027 To be determined The 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations will serve as the qualifying tournament
Total – 0/10 – – – – – – – Total – – – – – –

Summer Olympics

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Summer Olympics record Qualification record
Host nation(s)
and year 		Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA Squad Outcome Pld W D L GF GA
United States 1996 Did not enter The 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup served as the qualifying tournament
Australia 2000 The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup served as the qualifying tournament
Greece 2004 Did not qualify Second round 2 0 1 1 0 1
China 2008 3 1 0 2 9 6
United Kingdom 2012 Did not enter Did not enter
Brazil 2016 Group stage 12th 3 0 0 3 3 15 squad Fourth round 6 4 0 2 10 4
Japan 2020 Withdrew Second round 1 0 0 1 0 5
France 2024 Suspended Suspended
United States 2028 To be determined To be determined
Total – 1/8 3 0 0 3 3 15 – Total 12 5 1 6 19 16

Women's Africa Cup of Nations

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Women's Africa Cup of Nations record Qualification record
Host nation(s)
and year 		Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA Squad Outcome Pld W D L GF GA
1991 Withdrew No qualifying tournament
1995 Did not enter
Nigeria 1998 Did not enter
South Africa 2000 Fourth place 4th 5 1 1 3 8 17 squad Main round 2 2 0 0 4 0
Nigeria 2002 Group stage 6th 3 0 2 1 2 4 squad Main round 2 2 0 0 10 0
South Africa 2004 Group stage 5th 3 1 1 1 3 4 squad Main round 2 2 0 0 7 0
Nigeria 2006 Withdrew Withdrew
Equatorial Guinea 2008 Did not qualify Second round 4 2 0 2 7 9
South Africa 2010 Did not enter Did not enter
Equatorial Guinea 2012 Did not qualify First round 4 2 0 2 3 7
Namibia 2014 Second round 4 2 0 2 3 3
Cameroon 2016 Group stage 7th 3 0 1 2 0 3 squad Main round 4 3 1 0 7 4
Ghana 2018 Did not qualify Second round 4 3 0 1 6 2
Morocco 2022 Second round 4 3 0 1 9 4
Morocco 2024 Did not enter Did not enter
Morocco 2026 To be determined To be determined
Total – 4/16 14 2 5 7 13 28 – Total 30 21 1 8 56 29

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Zimbabwe's Women's Football Team Makes History Going Into Rio 2016 Olympics". okayafrica.com. Pablo Medina Uribe. August 3, 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Ruthless Copper Queens thrash Mighty Warriors". zambianfootball.co.zm. August 29, 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Where are our queens?". herald.co.zw. October 28, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  5. ^ "Zimbabwe's journalist-footballer ready for Rio". inside.fifa.com. FIFA. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  6. ^ "History of the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women's Championship". cosafa.com. October 6, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  7. ^ "Zimbabwe Mighty Warriors lift COSAFA cup". nehandaradio.com. July 9, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  8. ^ "The unlikely Olympic journey of Zimbabwe's Mighty Warriors". espn.com. August 1, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  9. ^ "No riches, but respect for Zimbabwe women's football team at Rio 2016 Olympics". indianexpress.com. August 9, 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Mighty Warriors 2024 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women's Championship final squad". Zimbabwe Football Association. 19 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024 – via facebook.
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