Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
MIGHTY Warriors coach Sithethelelwe Sibanda say they deserve to be in semi-finals at the ongoing COSAFA Women’s Championship after they made it through as the best-placed runners-up following Kenya’s 1-0 win over Swaziland yesterday at Barbourfields.

With the top teams from each of the three groups at the tournament and the best-placed runners-up advancing to the semi-finals, Zimbabwe needed a helping hand to qualify after finishing second with five points in Group A behind leaders Zambia who had seven points.

The hosts needed Kenya to beat Swaziland in Group B to qualify and had to wait for the outcome from yesterday’s game to know their fate. And, thanks to East African guest nation, they are through to the last four. Interestingly, Kenya and Zimbabwe will meet in the semi-finals.

The other match will see Zambia clashing with South Africa who finished tops in Group C with seven points. Both matches will be played on Thursday. Sibanda said although their fate had to be determined by results from the other groups, they had worked hard to earn their place in the last four.

“It’s great to be in that position, I think we worked hard to get it. There were three groups, one that produced the best runners-up, which means we failed to top the group.

“But the points that we got, got us through as the best runners-up, so it’s out of the great work from the guys. “You know how it is like to be kept in suspense, since yesterday (Sunday) everyone was in suspense of what really could transpire, anything can happen in football. But we thank God at the end of the day it came in our favour,” Sibanda said.

Zimbabwe beat Madagascar in the opening match before they settled for a 1-1 draw against Zambia and a 3-3 stalemate against Malawi. They gave up a 3-1 lead on Sunday against Malawi to settle for a draw and the Mighty Warriors coach said they need to improve their mental strength.

“I think we started off well in that match getting those goals. But I think we just lacked the mental strength to concentrate with our type of play that we had started with.

“So we lost by following their style of play. They were playing the long balls, the kick and run ball and we followed suit. So I think we lacked the mental strength to keep to our shape and to our tactical play.

“Of course we have got a very good side, the blend of our seniors and our juniors, so I think the way we have fought, we were in a very tough group if the truth may be said but the players really showed that resilience.

“We never got any easy points in those games. So I think the resilience that they showed in the group stages can carry us into the semi-finals.” Sibanda said.

While yesterday’s results came as a relief for the hosts, they need to up their game going into the semi-finals if they are entertaining any hopes of reaching the finals to defend the title they won in 2011. Zimbabwe and South Africa came in as the pre-tournament favourites having won the title before.

But looking at the results from the matches that have been played so far, any of the four teams in the semi-finals stand a chance of walking away as the winners.

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