ANGOLA . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
ZIMBABWE . . . . . . . . . .(1) 1
THE Mighty Warriors were left with a sour taste in their mouths after some controversial officiating denied them a stoppage time equaliser in their 2026 Africa Women Cup of Nations first round first leg match away in Angola.
The visitors appeared to have nicked a deserved equaliser from a headed effort off a freekick, but the far side lineswoman flagged the effort for an offside.
However, television replays showed that the scorer was clearly onside when the kick was taken.
The decision was a focal point of criticism, overshadowing what was a good encounter between the two teams at the 22 June Stadium in Luanda.
Amirnda Lopes scored a brace for the home side, taking advantage of some sloppy marking, first putting her side in front inside the opening minute.
But Zimbabwe responded with a goal from debutant Ruvimbo Mucherera on 23 minutes.
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The Israel-based star connected a cross from Ethel Chinyerere to mark her Mighty Warriors career in style.
She had a chance to increase the Mighty Warriors lead before halftime, but she skied her effort from a good range.
It was Rutendo Makore who fluffed the visitors’ golden opportunity to double the lead on 72 minutes when she aggressively dispossessed a defender inside the box to run clear on goal.
With the keeper to beat, she inexplicably went for power instead of placing the ball, and her overhit shot went over.
She and her team were immediately punished for the glaring miss.
A long clearance from the Angolan keeper was nodded on to the path of Lopes, who managed to shrug off one challenge before firing past Zimbabwe goalkeeper Lindiwe Magwede with an angled shot in the 73rd minute.
The Mighty Warriors pushed for an equaliser, and thought they had found it deep in injury time, but their celebrations were cut shot by a wrong call from the match officials.
Zimbabwe have a chance to fight back in the return leg which they will “host” at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in South Africa on Wednesday.
The Mighty Warriors are playing their home match in South Africa because Zimbabwe does not have a Caf-certified stadium to host international matches.
The winner of the two legged contest progresses to the second and final round of the qualifiers.
