Mighty Warriors head coach Rosemary Mugadza is not thinking about Nigeria yet but wants to first finish off Botswana in the second leg of their African Women Championships first round qualifier at Rufaro this afternoon. Mugadza has enough arsenal to vanquish her opponents into the dust-bins and progress to the last qualifying round where they will meet continental powerhouse Nigeria for a ticket to the national finals set for Equatorial Guinea in November this year.

Zimbabwe carry a slender 1-0 lead through Erina Jeke’s strike in the first leg tie at the University of Botswana Stadium. Mugadza challenged her strikers Rudo Neshamba, Jeke, the returning Rufaro Machingura and Rutendo Makore to convert chances that come their way and send the expected bumper crowd into a frenzy. Formerly skipper of the Mighty Warriors, Mugadza is satisfied with a much-improved performance at training from her charges, as she felt the team did not play its usual game in Gaborone.

She is also happy that one of her key players Nokuthula Ndlovu, who missed the first leg due to a knee injury, has fully recovered and is available for selection.

“In the first leg our approach to the game was negative and the strikers failed to convert the chances we created. Since we regrouped last week Thursday, there has been progress especially among the strikers who have been finding the target,” said Mugadza.

“It is important we maintain focus on the game and not think we are already through to meet Nigeria. We can only meet Nigeria after we finish off Botswana,’’ Mugadza pointed out.

The coach has been emphasising at training the need to avoid complacency and playing to the gallery but stick to the game plan in order to get a positive result.

From the squad that beat the Zebra Queens in the first leg, Mugadza will make two changes as roving midfielder Ndlovu comes in to replace Sheila Makoto, who had stood in for her, while Violet Bepete will also replace Talent Mandaza on the right flank.

Crowd favourite Machingura’s role is still under consideration.

“As you are aware that Machingura has not played for the team for a long time, we are happy that she is back in the squad. However, as the technical team we are still to decide on whether she will start or come in from the bench,” said Mugadza.

The Zimbabwe gaffer feels Botswana are a much improved side and can cause an upset if underrated. Mugadza believes if they can shut out the supply line to their captain Bonang “Bebeto” Otlhagile, who plays for Zimbabwe’s Inline Academy, and Thato Ramafifi — their key players — they will be home and dry.

Goalkeeper and captain Onai Chingawo will guard goal while former Under-20 central defender Nobuhle Majika is set to partner Patience Mujuru in the heart of defence with Ruvimbo Mutyavaviri and Bepete making up the defence line.

Midfield workhorse Merjury Nyaumwe, Ndlovu, Tsitsi “Figo” Mairosi and Emmaculate Msipa will occupy the engine room. Captain Chingawo, midfielders Nyaumwe and Ndlovu are the only players with vast experience in the tournament having played at the African Women Championships in South Africa in 2006.

However, the Zebra Queens will be no pushovers as they have a good side that has been together for a long time. Their coach, Gaoletmoo Nkutlwisang, has declared war on the Mighty Warriors and is ready to dump the hosts out of the qualifiers.

Nkutlwisang brought with her the same squad that lost 0-1 in the first leg and said they were just unlucky not to win last time out. But the Batswana mentor has misgivings about the artificial turf, a surface they have never played on. Nkutlwisang believes their early arrival on Wednesday will help them adjust to the pitch.