Mighty Warriors Face Lengthy Layoff as COSAFA Women’s Championship Postponed to 2026

Zimbabwe’s senior women’s national football team, the Mighty Warriors, face an extended period without international action following the postponement of the 2025 COSAFA Women’s Championship and the absence of friendly fixtures during the current FIFA international window.

The team last featured in competitive action in February, when they faced Angola in a two legged 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier. Since then, there has been no activity for the squad, leaving players and fans frustrated by the prolonged inactivity.

With the ongoing FIFA Women’s International Break running from 20 to 28 October, many nations across the continent are engaged in friendly matches and training camps. However, for Zimbabwe, there are no games lined up, not even a local camp or intra squad match to maintain the players’ match fitness and team cohesion.

The situation has been further compounded by the cancellation of this year’s COSAFA Women’s Championship, traditionally the most consistent regional competition providing exposure for Southern Africa’s women footballers.

In a circular issued on 20 October 2025, the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) announced that the 2025 edition of the women’s tournament has been postponed due to the unavailability of a host nation. The regional body is now in discussions with potential hosts to reschedule the competition for the first quarter of 2026.

“COSAFA is engaging potential hosts to ensure the successful delivery of the tournament, which is now expected to take place in early 2026,” read part of the statement. “Further details regarding the new dates and venue will be communicated in due course.”

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) responded to the development by expressing support for COSAFA’s decision, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the high standards of women’s football in the region.

“ZIFA acknowledges and supports COSAFA’s commitment to maintaining the quality and integrity of the women’s game across Southern Africa and looks forward to the rescheduled staging of the tournament,” the association said in a statement.

However, the lack of consistent international fixtures remains a concern for the Mighty Warriors, who have struggled to maintain momentum amid irregular competition schedules and limited preparation time. For a team that has represented Zimbabwe at the highest levels, including the 2016 Rio Olympics, the continued inactivity threatens to stall progress in rebuilding a competitive side.

The postponement also raises questions about the broader development of women’s football in the country, with players missing valuable opportunities to showcase their talent and gain international experience.

With no confirmed fixtures or training camps on the horizon, Zimbabwe’s female footballers are now expected to wait until 2026 for their next taste of international football, a lengthy and worrying gap that underscores the urgent need for more structured support and regular competition for the women’s game in the country.