Zimbabwe women's national football team
| Nickname(s) | Mighty Warriors |
|---|---|
| Association | Zimbabwe Football Association (ZFA) |
| Confederation | CAF (Africa) |
| Sub-confederation | COSAFA (Southern Africa) |
| Head coach | Sithethelelwe Sibanda |
| Captain | Nobukhosi Ncube |
| FIFA code | ZIM |
| FIFA ranking | |
| Current | 130 Decrease 3 (6 March 2025)[1] |
| Highest | 82 (December 2013) |
| Lowest | 128 (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 | |
| Appearances | 4 (first in 1991 ) |
| Best result | 4th (2000) |
| Summer Olympics | |
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2016 ) |
| Best result | 12th (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
[edit ]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]
Coaching staff
[edit ]Current coaching staff
[edit ]![[icon]](/index.cgi/contrast/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=link}
| Position | Name | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Sithethelelwe Sibanda |
Manager history
[edit ]- Sithethelelwe Sibanda(20??-present)
Results and fixtures
[edit ]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
[edit ]Referee: Vistoria Nuusiku Shangula (Namibia)
- Chinyerere 60', 90+2'
- Katona 69'
Referee: Vistoria Nuusiku Shangula (Namibia)
2025
[edit ](3–3 agg.)
(4–5 p) Angola Pretoria, South Africa
- Chinyerere 35'
- Katona 44'
Referee: Aline A Etong (Cameroon)
- soccer ball with check mark Cristina
- soccer ball with check mark Margareth
- soccer ball with check mark Ketcha
- soccer ball with check mark Docarsia
- soccer ball with check mark Ngonguinha
Players
[edit ]Current squad
[edit ]The following is the squad called up for the 2026 WAFCON qualifying First round named on 12 February 2025.[10]
Recent call-ups
[edit ]The following players have been called up to a Mozambique squad in the past 12 months.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Cynthia Shonga | (2000年06月18日) 18 June 2000 (age 24) | - | - | South Africa Richmond United | v. Lesotho ,27 October 2024 |
| GK | Sasha Machona | - | - | v. Angola ,20 February 2025 | ||
| DF | Nokukhanya Ndlovu | - | - | Zimbabwe | v. Angola ,20 February 2025 | |
| MF | Edline Mutumbami | (1996年10月13日) 13 October 1996 (age 28) | - | - | Zimbabwe Chapungu Queens | v. Lesotho ,27 October 2024 |
| MF | Tanyaradzwa Chihoro | (2004年12月01日) 1 December 2004 (age 20) | - | - | Zimbabwe Maningi Soccer Academy | v. Lesotho ,27 October 2024 |
| MF | Peacemore Kenende | (1997年03月03日) 3 March 1997 (age 28) | - | - | South Africa Richmond United | v. Lesotho ,27 October 2024 |
| MF | Shyline Dambamuromo | (2000年04月04日)4 April 2000 (aged 24) | - | - | Zimbabwe Herentals Queens | v. Angola ,20 February 2025 |
| MF | Nadia Semba | (2006年03月18日)18 March 2006 (aged 18) | - | - | Zimbabwe Correctional Queens | v. Angola ,20 February 2025 |
| MF | Patience Ndlovu | (2006年02月10日)10 February 2006 (aged 18) | - | - | Zimbabwe Highlanders Royals | v. Angola ,20 February 2025 |
| FW | Priviledge Mupeti | (1997年09月29日) 29 September 1997 (age 27) | - | - | Zimbabwe Black Rhinos Queens | v. Lesotho ,27 October 2024 |
| FW | Maudy Mafuruse | (1999年04月24日)24 April 1999 (aged 25) | - | - | Zimbabwe Herentals Queens | v. Angola ,20 February 2025 |
| FW | Mitchell John | (2005年09月14日)14 September 2005 (aged 19) | - | - | Zimbabwe Harare City Queens | v. Angola ,20 February 2025 |
| FW | Anita Nube | - | - | Zimbabwe | v. Angola ,20 February 2025 | |
Previous squads
[edit ]- Olympic Games
- Africa Women Cup of Nations
- COSAFA Women's Championship
- 2020 COSAFA Women's Championship squad
- 2021 COSAFA Women's Championship squad
- 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship squad
- 2024 COSAFA Women's Championship squad
Competitive record
[edit ]FIFA Women's World Cup
[edit ]| 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 | ||||||||||||||
| Australia New 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
[edit ]| 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
[edit ]| 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
[edit ]
References
[edit ]- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Ruthless Copper Queens thrash Mighty Warriors". zambianfootball.co.zm. August 29, 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ "Where are our queens?". herald.co.zw. October 28, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ "Zimbabwe's journalist-footballer ready for Rio". inside.fifa.com. FIFA . Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ "History of the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women's Championship". cosafa.com. October 6, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ "Zimbabwe Mighty Warriors lift COSAFA cup". nehandaradio.com. July 9, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ "The unlikely Olympic journey of Zimbabwe's Mighty Warriors". espn.com. August 1, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ "No riches, but respect for Zimbabwe women's football team at Rio 2016 Olympics". indianexpress.com. August 9, 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ "Mighty Warriors final squad to face Angola in the 2026 AWCON qualifiers". Zimbabwe Football Association. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025 – via facebook.
External links
[edit ]- Zimbabwe women's national football team – official website at ZIFA (in English)