Final Confirmed: Zimbabwe to Face Zambia for Four Nations Tournament Crown
Mighty Warriors Now Know Their Final Opponents After Beating Lesotho in Semi-Final Thriller
Zimbabwe’s Mighty Warriors now know who stands between them and the Zambia Four Nations Tournament title after defeating Lesotho 3-1 in a hard-fought semi-final played in Ndola on Saturday, a match that was level at the break before the Zimbabweans pulled away in the second half.
The Mighty Warriors secured their place in the final thanks to goals from Emmaculate Msipa, Ethel Chinyerere and Rutendo Makore, but were made to work extremely hard by a determined Lesotho side who refused to go down without a fight.
Zimbabwe started the game brightly and showed attacking intent from the opening minutes, pressing forward and controlling possession in the early stages. Their early pressure eventually paid off in the 30th minute when Emmaculate Msipa broke the deadlock with a composed finish to give Zimbabwe a deserved lead.
However, Lesotho responded strongly and grew into the contest, pushing back against Zimbabwe’s dominance. Their persistence was rewarded just before half-time when they found an equaliser, ensuring the match went into the break level at 1-1 after an intense and competitive first half.
Half-time: Zimbabwe 1-1 Lesotho
The second half began with both teams looking to take control, but Zimbabwe gradually regained their rhythm and began to assert themselves in midfield. Their patience and attacking quality eventually made the difference.
In the 68th minute, Ethel Chinyerere restored Zimbabwe’s lead with a crucial goal that shifted the momentum firmly in favour of the Mighty Warriors. The strike lifted Zimbabwe’s confidence as they began to control the tempo of the game once again.
As Lesotho pushed forward in search of another equaliser, spaces opened up at the back, and Zimbabwe took full advantage. Rutendo Makore sealed the victory in the 85th minute with a well-taken goal to confirm a 3-1 win and send the Mighty Warriors into the final in style.
Zimbabwe 3-1 Lesotho
- 30’ Emmaculate Msipa
- 68’ Ethel Chinyerere
- 85’ Rutendo Makore
After Zimbabwe’s victory, attention turned to the second semi-final where hosts Zambia secured their place in the final after defeating Kenya 4-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
That result confirmed a mouth-watering final between Zimbabwe and Zambia, scheduled for 9 June 2026 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. Kick-off is set for 1800hrs.
Before the final, Kenya will face Lesotho in the third-place playoff at the same venue, with kick-off scheduled for 1500hrs.
Having shown resilience to overcome a difficult semi-final and recover from a 1-1 half-time scoreline, the Mighty Warriors head into the final full of belief as they prepare for a tough test against the host nation in Ndola.
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