MIGHTY Warriors poster girl and chief striker Rudo Neshamba has been ruled out of the Africa Women Cup of Nations after she was omitted in the 26-member squad named by the coach on Thursday.

The tournament begins on November 19 until December 3 in Cameroon.

According to CAF, 21 players are accredited to feature for women’s tournament and 23 for the men’s version so Zimbabwe senior women’s soccer team coach Shadreck Mlauzi is later expected to drop five players before departure.

Inline Academy forward is not part of the players that were expected to go into camp on Thursday to mark the beginning of their training program on Friday.

The 24-year-old striker has a chronic knee injury which she sustained when she was still in Primary School.

But of late the persistent injury has been troubling the striker who is now going under some treatment.

She was supposed to go under the knife but Warriors doctor Nicholas Munyonga has prescribed some form of treatment which should completely heal her.

Neshamba was the hero when Zimbabwe booked a historic place to the Summer Games scoring in both legs in the final qualifying Olympic match against Cameroon.

Her absence will be felt at such a tournament but Mlauzi decided to drop the forward following a subdued performance in Rio due to the condition.

“It is a major blow. Rudo is a natural goal scorer, very clever but we have to consider her future, we want her in the long term.

“We gambled with her in the Olympics and she was clearly not at her best so we didn’t want to risk again this time around. We have been lobbying for financial assistance for her to go for an operation but it has not been forthcoming.

“Doctor Munyonga has given her some treatment so it is only natural that healing takes place,” said Mlauzi.

“We are going for a major tournament so we want all our players to be at their best,” said Mlauzi.

Three more players who were at the Olympic Games thus Daisy Kaitano, Erina Jeke and Samkelisiwe Zulu have been not considered for the AFWCON tournament.

The coach said this is due to the fact that some of them are plagued by injuries as well as performance.

Mighty Warriors coach Mlauzi has kept faith in the bulk of players who went to Brazil adding a few new faces to the squad.

Skipper Felistas “Figo” Muzongondi, goalkeepers Chido Dzingirai and Lindiwe Magwede, midfielders Marjoury Nyaumwe , Emmaculate Msipa and Kuda Basopo are some of the players that have been retained.

While the coach has called six rookie players that is Mwenezana goalie Lisa Mpofu, Cosa Guruve defender Sarudzai Chikowore, Sifundile Moyo, Happiness Gumbo, Maud Mafuruse and Sibonginkosi Nleya.

They are set to earn first national team caps in a competitive match should they make it into the final squad for Yaounde.