Brave Gladiators playmaker Zenatha Coleman scored twice to lead the team to a much needed 2-1 first leg away win against Tanzania on Wednesday afternoon in the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations Qualifiers First Round.

The match took place at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar Es Salaam and the Brave Gladiators faced a huge task against the 2021 Cosafa Women championships winners who were at home.

But it was the Spanish-based Coleman who rose to the ocacssion as she scored the first goal of the match after she was put through by Annouscka Kordom on 28 minutes.

Tanzania made things interesting with an equaliser just before halfimte through Stumai Abdallah on 38 minutes.

After the break, Coleman scored an outrageous free-kick early in the second half to get the Brave Gladiators back in front for the second time in the encounter.

Tanzania tried to get back into it but it was it to be as Woody Jacobs’ charges stood firm and takes a 2-1 aggregate lead to Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday for the second leg.

The aggregate winner advance to the second and final round of the qualifiers.

The 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations, will be the 12th edition of the Africa Women Cup of Nations and the to tournament will be hosted by Morocco from 2 to 23 July 2022.

The tournament also doubles as the African qualifiers to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The top four teams will qualify for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and two more teams will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.

Brave Gladiators vs Tanzania :Mellissa Matheus, Iina Katuta, Asteria Angula, Veronica Van Wyk, Emma Naris (captain), Lovisa Mulunga, Veueziua Kotjipati, Annouscka Kordom, Juliana Blou, Zenatha Coleman, Memory Ngonda.

Source: Voice of America