Stuck in a delusional state of inaction for far too long, women’s football now faces its greatest test.
While the sport has shown moments of promise over the years, indications are that, it has not reached its full potential.
Growth remains stunted.
The Mighty Warriors, currently ranked 130th in the world, could have been much higher had they been more active.
The upcoming Malawi Tri-Nations will be the second tournament this year the senior national team competes in after the disappointing Africa Women Cup of Nations campaign held in February.
Unlike the men’s football, where financial backing, visibility, and organisational standards have gradually improved, women’s football has long suffered from limited funding, poor infrastructure, and inadequate competitive structures.
It is harder for Zimbabwe to conquer the world in men’s football than in women’s, hence the belief that just half the efforts in men could help the ladies realise their dream.
There are, however, indications that the women’s game could rise much faster globally than the men’s team, deliberate effort is applied.
Yesterday, the Zimbabwe Football Association unveiled the Women’s Football Strategy (2025–2028), a blueprint expected to redefine the women’s game and anchor it on strong developmental foundations.
The roadmap sets out ZIFA’s ambition to transform women’s football into a ‘powerhouse of opportunity, national pride, and competitive excellence.’
“This strategy, therefore, emerges as a response to both the progress and the gaps. It builds upon lessons from the past and introduces a systematic approach to development, linking grassroots participation, coach education, league growth, talent identification, governance, and commercialisation into one cohesive framework,” says ZIFA.
The strategy aims to ensure that every girl, from grassroots to elite level, has a place in football, not only as a player, but also as a referee, coach, leader, or fan.
“Our goal is to restore Zimbabwe’s glory days by qualifying for major tournaments and reclaiming our position as a giant in Southern African football,” it adds.
ZIFA says the strategy aligns with FIFA and CAF Women’s Football Development Frameworks and integrates with the association’s broader strategic agenda. It is a collective call to action for government, schools, communities, clubs, corporates, and development partners to invest in women’s football as a tool for empowerment, unity, and transformation.
“The journey ahead is ambitious, but so were the women who took the first steps. This document honours their legacy by defining clear goals, measurable outcomes, and the structures that will propel Zimbabwean women’s football into a new era,” says ZIFA.
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