Rutendo Makore was the star of the show as Zimbabwe’s Mighty Warriors walloped Madagascar in their opening game of group A in the 2017 COSAFA Women’s Championship in Bulawayo on Wednesday.

Makore, who scored all four goals for Zimbabwe, got her first towards the end of the first half and scored three more in the second half as the Mighty Warriors turned on the heat on the Indian Ocean Islanders.

In the other group A game Misozi Zulu got a hat trick as Zambia scored half a dozen goals past Malawi who could only reply with a hat trick from Tabitha Kawinga. Noria Sosala, Barbara Banda and Racheal Nachula got the other goals for Shepolopolo.

Namibia made an early statement in group C thumping Botswana 4-0. Vistorina Shangula scored a brace while Zenatha Coleman and substitute Anna Shikusho weighed in with a goal each. 

Only the top teams in each pool, as well as the best runner-up, make it through to the semifinals.

Thursday sees Mauritius and Swaziland tussling in the first game of the day at 10h30hrs followed by East African guest nation Kenya who will play their opener against Mozambique at14h00. Three-time COSAFA winners South Africa will then take on Lesotho at the Luveve Stadium in the last game of the day at 16h30.