Zimbabwe's Mighty Warriors have failed to qualify for the 2018 African Women's Cup of Nations in Ghana after losing  2-1 at home to Zambia's Shepolopolo.

The Mighty Warriors went into the match with an eye into the Ghana's showpiece after winning 1-nil in the first leg but today's second leg loss ensured that their rivals qualify on an away goals rule.

Zimbabwe opened the score sheet through Erina Jeke but the Zambians scored twice through Helen Chanda and Barbara Banda to cause an upset at Rufaro Stadium in Harare.

Mighty Warriors coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda blamed their defeat on the lapse of concentration.

“It’s very unfortunate but such things do happen in football but obviously we are not happy about it.

“We played well. But I believe we let in soft goals, especially the second one which came as a result of some loss of concentration at the back and the defence failed to track the scorer of which we knew in terms of pace they (Zambia) possess much better explosive pace than us. But we failed to track that goalscorer and we were punished for it.

“And at the end of the day we have lost and we are out of the competition and it’s congratulations to the Zambians… We wish them all the best in Ghana,” said Sibanda.