Mighty Warriors warned ahead of crucial Botswana clash

Zimbabwe's senior women's national football team head coach, Sithethelelwe Sibanda, has cautioned her players against complacency as they prepare to face Botswana in their final Group B match of the COSAFA Cup on Tuesday at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in South Africa.

A win in the match will guarantee Zimbabwe automatic progression to the semi-finals, where the tournament features the top teams from each group along with the best overall runner-up. The Mighty Warriors currently occupy second place in Group B with four points, level with leaders Zambia. Botswana sits third with one point, equal to bottom-placed Eswatini.

Zimbabwe began their campaign with a solid 2–0 victory over Eswatini before drawing against Zambia, leaving their qualification hopes largely in their own hands. Despite Botswana's lack of wins in the tournament so far, Sibanda stressed that every match must be treated as a final. "For me, there really is no room for complacency; we have to treat every game as a cup final. We all want to give our best always, and we don't have to undermine our opponents. Football is practical, and everything is done on the field of play, so we do not win on paper," she said.

The team's morale has also been bolstered by a government award of US$2,700 in allowances per player for the tournament, announced on Sunday.

Zimbabwe will be seeking to advance beyond the group stages for the first time since 2023, when they finished fourth overall. Their historic best at the COSAFA Cup came in 2012, when they lifted the trophy on home soil - a landmark achievement that remains unmatched. Tuesday's decisive clash against Botswana presents a crucial opportunity for the Mighty Warriors to move closer to reclaiming regional glory.