Story by Mthokozisi Dube
ZIMBABWE’S Young Mighty Warriors have been eliminated from the FIFA Women’s Under-17 World Cup qualifiers after a heavy 6-1 aggregate defeat to Uganda’s Teen Cranes.
Trailing 2-0 from the first leg at Ngoni Stadium last week, Zimbabwe needed a strong response but fell short, losing 4-1 in the return fixture played in Uganda on Saturday.
The result confirms an early exit for the junior side and extends a worrying run for Zimbabwe’s youth women’s teams, who have now failed to progress beyond the first round of qualifiers for four consecutive years.
Over the same period, the teams have also struggled in regional competitions, including COSAFA tournaments, where they have consistently exited at the group stage.
The latest defeat has renewed calls for a more structured and sustainable approach to junior development, amid concerns over talent identification and progression pathways.
However, there is cautious optimism that initiatives such as the BancABC Roots tournament could help strengthen grassroots development and provide a clearer pipeline for emerging talent.
