Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
Qatar……………………..(1) 1
Zimbabwe………………..(1) a
THE Warriors finally won a football match for the first time in 13 months last night and gave new coach Marian “Super Mario” Marinica a victory in only his second game in charge.
Qatar, fresh from qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, were supposed to roll over Zimbabwe.
Instead, they got a lesson in helicopter football as the Warriors triumphed in Doha.
Thirteen months without a win had sucked the life out of the national team.
Not even Lesotho could be beaten during that spell.
But under the bright Gulf lights, Zimbabwe looked alive again.
Munashe Garananga rose like a man possessed to level the scores before Bill Antonio came off the bench to deliver the winner with a wicked cross cum shot.
The Warriors’ Romanian had been under fire after the 3–1 loss to Algeria in Saudi Arabia.
There were even reports of rifts in camp.
Last night felt like his answer.
Structure, unity, fight and a statement win ahead of December’s AFCON in Morocco.
Qatar are ranked 52nd in the world. Zimbabwe sit way down at 129.
None of it mattered.
Marinica switched things up, throwing in Elvis Chipezeze, Godknows Murwira, Marvelous Nakamba, Emmanuel Jalai, and Daniel Msendami into a bold 3-5-2.
They all played their part, especially Chipezeze, who pulled off sharp saves to keep the Warriors in it.
But it didn’t start well.
Mohamed Khaled bent a beauty into the top corner after only eight minutes as Qatar dominated the ball.
At one point, possession stood at 80–20.
Still, Zimbabwe refused to crumble.
Mario and his captain Nakamba had promised unity before the game and the team delivered.
Murwira whipped in a corner, Garananga bullied his markers and powered home the equaliser.
The Warriors found confidence from there.
Qatar coach Julen Lopategui was so rattled he made seven changes in the second half.
Zimbabwe waited for their moment and Antonio found it.
He picked up a loose ball, burst down the flank and his effort somehow sneaked into the net.
From there, the Warriors shut up shop with real discipline.
The final whistle sparked a wild war cry celebration as Mario huddled his squad together, the unity clear for all to see.
“We still need to work hard but these are the good signs. I am very happy with the win,” Mario said.
The Warriors fly home now as AFCON preparations intensify, with local-based players reporting first and the foreign legion joining after.
Warriors Squad
Elvis Chipezeze, Emmanuel Jalai, Munashe Garan’anga, Teenage Hadebe (Gerald Takwara 62min), Sean Fusire (Bill Antonio 62ndmin), Daniel Msendami (Washington Navaya 84min), Prince Dube (Prosper Padera 46thmin), Marvellous Nakamba, Godknows Murwira, Devine Lunga, Jonah Fabisch
