Mighty Warriors draw Malawi in 2028 Olympic qualifiers
Hope
Zimbabwe’s senior women’s national football team, the Mighty Warriors, will face Malawi women’s national football team in the second round of the African qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The draw, conducted on Wednesday, handed Zimbabwe a first-round bye, allowing the Mighty Warriors to advance directly to the second stage of the qualification campaign.
The second-round tie against Malawi will be played over two legs on a home-and-away basis, with the aggregate winner progressing to the next round. The matches are scheduled to take place between October 5 and October 13, 2026.
Zimbabwe will enter the contest determined to keep alive hopes of returning to the Olympic stage for only the second time in the nation’s history. The Mighty Warriors famously qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, becoming the first Zimbabwean football team — men’s or women’s — to reach the prestigious global tournament.
That historic achievement remains a landmark moment for women’s football in Zimbabwe and continues to inspire the current generation of players.
The road to Los Angeles, however, will be a demanding one. Only two African nations will qualify for the women’s football tournament at the 2028 Olympic Games, making the continental qualifiers one of the toughest routes in international football.
To secure a place at the Games, Zimbabwe will need to successfully navigate five knockout rounds against some of Africa’s strongest women’s national teams.
The upcoming clash against Malawi presents a significant early test. Regional encounters between Southern African nations are often closely contested, with familiarity between the sides adding an extra layer of intensity.
For Zimbabwe, the tie will also offer an opportunity to build momentum following recent international assignments as the team continues its rebuilding process.
With qualification for Los Angeles at stake, the Mighty Warriors will be eager to make a strong start and take another step towards recreating the glory of their groundbreaking Rio 2016 campaign.
