Zimbabwe women's national football team

Last updated

Zimbabwe
Nickname(s) Mighty Warriors
Association Zimbabwe Football Association (ZFA)
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation COSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coachSithethelelwe Sibanda
Captain Nobukhosi Ncube
FIFA code ZIM
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First colours
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Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 127 Decrease2.svg 3 (13 December 2024) [1]
Highest82 (December 2013)
Lowest128 (August 2022)
First international
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 4–0 Lesotho  Flag of Lesotho (1987-2006).svg
(Harare, Zimbabwe; 30 July 2000)
Biggest win
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 15–0 Lesotho  Flag of Lesotho (1987-2006).svg
(Harare, Zimbabwe; 19 April 2002)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 6–0 Zimbabwe  Flag of Zimbabwe.svg
(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.

Contents

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

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

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

24 October 2024 (2024-10-24) 2024 COSAFA WC GS Mozambique  Flag of Mozambique.svg 1–0 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Ibhayi, South Africa
17:00  UTC+2 Aurora Soccerball shade.svg18' Report Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium
Referee: Vistoria Nuusiku Shangula (Namibia)
27 October 2024 (2024-10-27) 2024 COSAFA WC GS Zimbabwe  Flag of Zimbabwe.svg 3–0 Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho Gqeberha, South Africa
15:00  UTC+2
Report Stadium: Madibaz Stadium
Referee: Vistoria Nuusiku Shangula (Namibia)

2025

17–26 February 2025 (2025-02) 2026 WAFCON qualifying Angola  Flag of Angola.svgvFlag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Angola
--:--  UTC+1
17–26 February 2025 (2025-02) 2026 WAFCON qualifying Zimbabwe  Flag of Zimbabwe.svgvFlag of Angola.svg  Angola TBD
--:--  UTC+2

Players

Current squad

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

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)Club
11 GK Precious Mudyiwa (1998-02-02)2 February 1998 (aged 26) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Black Rhinos Queens
161 GK Vanessa Lunga (1994-06-16)16 June 1994 (aged 30) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Chapungu Queens
221 GK Cynthia Shonga (2000-06-18)18 June 2000 (aged 24) Flag of South Africa.svg Richmond United

22 DF Purity Mugayi (1998-12-15)15 December 1998 (aged 25) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Black Rhinos Queens
42 DF Egness Tumbare (1993-07-31)31 July 1993 (aged 31) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Herentals Queens
52 DF Shiela Antonio (1999-08-27)27 August 1999 (aged 25) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Chapungu Queens
92 DF Nobukhosi Ncube (Captain) (1993-02-17)17 February 1993 (aged 31) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Chapungu Queens
212 DF Alice Moyo (1993-03-26)26 March 1993 (aged 31) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Herentals Queens

33 MF Edline Mutumbami (1996-10-13)13 October 1996 (aged 28) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Chapungu Queens
73 MF Tanyaradzwa Chihoro (2004-12-01)1 December 2004 (aged 19) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Maningi Soccer Academy
83 MF Morelife Nyagumbo (2005-02-09)9 February 2005 (aged 19) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Faith Drive Academy
103 MF Ennety Chemhere (2002-10-19)19 October 2002 (aged 22) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Platinum Royals
113 MF Daisy Kaitano (1995-07-04)4 July 1995 (aged 29) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Black Rhinos Queens
123 MF Nadia Semba (2006-03-18)18 March 2006 (aged 18) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Correctional Queens
153 MF Peacemore Kenende (1997-03-03)3 March 1997 (aged 27) Flag of South Africa.svg Richmond United
193 MF Shyline Dambamuromo (2000-04-04)4 April 2000 (aged 24) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Herentals Queens
203 MF Natasha Ndowa (1998-01-03)3 January 1998 (aged 26) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Chapungu Queens
233 MF Patience Ndlovu (2006-02-10)10 February 2006 (aged 18) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Highlanders Royals

64 FW Mitchell John (2005-09-14)14 September 2005 (aged 19) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Harare City Queens
134 FW Christabel Katona (1999-02-13)13 February 1999 (aged 25) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Black Rhinos Queens
144 FW Ethel Chinyerere (1996-06-12)12 June 1996 (aged 28) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Chapungu Queens
174 FW Priviledge Mupeti (1997-09-29)29 September 1997 (aged 27) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Black Rhinos Queens
184 FW Maudy Mafuruse (1999-04-24)24 April 1999 (aged 25) Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Herentals Queens

Previous squads

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

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup recordQualification record
Host nation(s)
and year
RoundPosPldWDLGFGASquadOutcomePldWDLGFGA
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 1991 WithdrewWithdrew
Flag of Sweden.svg 1995 Did not enterDid not enter
Flag of the United States.svg 1999
Flag of the United States.svg 2003 Did not qualifyThe 2002 African Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 2007 WithdrewWithdrew
Flag of Germany.svg 2011 Did not enterDid not enter
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 2015 Did not qualifyThe 2014 African Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament
Flag of France.svg 2019 Did not qualifyThe 2018 Women's Africa Cup of Nations served as the qualifying tournament
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Flag of New Zealand.svg 2023 Did not qualifyThe 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations served as the qualifying tournament
Flag of Brazil.svg 2027 To be determinedThe 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations will serve as the qualifying tournament
Total0/10Total

Summer Olympics

Summer Olympics recordQualification record
Host nation(s)
and year
RoundPosPldWDLGFGASquadOutcomePldWDLGFGA
Flag of the United States.svg 1996 Did not enterThe 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup served as the qualifying tournament
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2000 The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup served as the qualifying tournament
Flag of Greece.svg 2004 Did not qualifySecond round201101
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 2008 310296
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 2012 Did not enterDid not enter
Flag of Brazil.svg 2016 Group stage12th3003315 squad Fourth round6402104
Flag of Japan.svg 2020 WithdrewSecond round100105
Flag of France.svg 2024 SuspendedSuspended
Flag of the United States.svg 2028 To be determinedTo be determined
Total1/83003315Total125161916

Women's Africa Cup of Nations

Women's Africa Cup of Nations recordQualification record
Host nation(s)
and year
RoundPosPldWDLGFGASquadOutcomePldWDLGFGA
White flag of surrender.svg 1991 WithdrewNo qualifying tournament
White flag of surrender.svg 1995 Did not enter
Flag of Nigeria.svg 1998 Did not enter
Flag of South Africa.svg 2000 Fourth place4th5113817 squad Main round220040
Flag of Nigeria.svg 2002 Group stage6th302124squadMain round2200100
Flag of South Africa.svg 2004 Group stage5th311134squadMain round220070
Flag of Nigeria.svg 2006 WithdrewWithdrew
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg 2008 Did not qualifySecond round420279
Flag of South Africa.svg 2010 Did not enterDid not enter
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg 2012 Did not qualifyFirst round420237
Flag of Namibia.svg 2014 Second round420233
Flag of Cameroon.svg 2016 Group stage7th301203 squad Main round431074
Flag of Ghana.svg 2018 Did not qualifySecond round430162
Flag of Morocco.svg 2022 Second round430194
Flag of Morocco.svg 2024 Did not enterDid not enter
Flag of Morocco.svg 2026 To be determinedTo be determined
Total4/16142571328Total3021185629

See also

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References

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