The defeat means the team missed out on an opportunity to squeeze through to the semi finals as the best runners-up.
This is the first time in three years the Mares have failed to reach the knockout round of the COSAFA Championship after a fourth place finish in 2019 and a first appearance in the final last year. The team started brightly, hammering South Sudan 7-0 on the eve of the Independence Day.
In the second match, led by interim coach Thabo Motang, the local girls went 2-0 down to Tanzania. The defeat left the team with a do-or-die clash against neighbors, Zimbabwe in the final group stages match.
With a better goal difference against their opponents, the Mares needed the slimiest of the victories to increase their chances of reaching the semifinals for the third time in a row. Privilege Mupeti opened the score for Zimbabwe three minutes to half time. The winger was left unmarked at the far post and poked her effort in the near post to give her side the lead.
Skipper, Emmaculate Msipa doubled her side's lead in the 65th minute as her free header from inside the box beat the keeper at the far corner.
Rudo Neshamba wrapped things up for Zimbabwe with a powerful shot from the edge of the box with eight minutes to time.
The defeat means the Mares finished with three points on position three while Zimbabwe have six and Tanzania had maximum points from their three games.
