Zimbabwe Women’s National Team head coach Sithethelelwe Sibanda has warned that defending champions Zambia should expect a tough contest when the two sides clash on Sunday in their second Group B match at the ongoing COSAFA Women’s Championship in Polokwane, South Africa.

The Mighty Warriors head into the encounter at the Peter Mokaba Stadium buoyed by a 2-0 victory over Eswatini in their opening fixture on Thursday, a result Sibanda described as a positive start to their campaign.

Speaking after the win, Sibanda said securing maximum points in the opening match was crucial in a tournament setting where early momentum can shape qualification prospects.

“Getting three points is a positive. It is only game number one; there are lots of positives, but also a lot of other stuff we need to work on and address going into the second match,” she said.

Sibanda noted that despite limited recent activity due to the holiday break, her players showed strong mental resilience and tactical discipline against Eswatini.

“Psychologically, the players wanted it more and that made the difference,” she explained.

Sibanda acknowledged Zambia’s pedigree as defending champions but insisted her side will not be intimidated.

“It’s going to be a tough game. They are the defending champions and have been active, but they are not going to get it easy; we will definitely give them competition,” Sibanda warned.

She added that the opening match has improved her team’s match fitness and mental sharpness, with squad depth expected to play a key role as the tournament progresses.