Mighty Warriors Open LA28 Olympic Qualifying Campaign Against Malawi

Zimbabwe’s Mighty Warriors begin their quest for a place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games this afternoon when they take on Malawi in the first leg of their second-round qualifying tie at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

Kick-off is set for 3pm CAT, with coach Stella Gotal’s charges aiming to secure a positive away result before the return leg at the National Sports Stadium in Harare on Tuesday, 13 October.

Zimbabwe received a first-round bye and now face a Malawian side that will be looking to capitalise on home advantage. The Mighty Warriors will need to produce a disciplined performance and make the most of their scoring opportunities to put themselves in a strong position heading into the second leg.

Gotal has named a 24-player squad combining local and foreign-based talent, with experienced captain Emmaculate Msipa, Rutendo Makore and Daisy Kaitano among the notable names.

The coach expects a difficult encounter but believes her players are prepared for the challenge after their work in training.

“We expect a really difficult game,” Gotal said, acknowledging Malawi’s quality while expressing confidence in her team’s readiness.

The match presents Zimbabwe with an opportunity to move closer to a return to the Olympic football tournament, having previously represented the country at the 2016 Rio Games. The team will be eager to build momentum in a qualification campaign that demands strong performances over two legs.

Malawi are ranked 119th in the FIFA women’s rankings, with Zimbabwe sitting 128th, according to the supplied preview. However, the rankings will count for little once the contest gets underway, with both sides focused on gaining an advantage before Tuesday’s return fixture.

Supporters can follow the action live on the Football Association of Malawi’s Facebook and YouTube channels as the Mighty Warriors begin their latest pursuit of Olympic qualification.

For Zimbabwe, the immediate objective is to deliver a strong performance in Lilongwe and return home with the tie still firmly within reach.