Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Zimbabwe…………………………..0
Rwanda……………………………(1) 1
IT seems the Warriors just can’t win, with or without pressure.
Already out of contention for a place at the 2026 World Cup, Zimbabwe needed to rescue some pride in this Group C qualifier at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg yesterday.
Technically the hosts because they do not have a certified home stadium, the Warriors badly needed to win this game and post their first victory in a campaign that went off the rails in its early stages.
They had nothing to lose and which then gave them the license to explore and try to get a win but they still came short.
But a 39th minute screamer by Rwanda’s Gilbert Mugisha condemned the Warriors to their fourth defeat in a qualifying campaign that promised but has since failed to deliver.
Michael Nees’ men anchor the Group C standings with just four points in eight outings.
Yet they were the better side until that against-run-of-play goal stunned them.
Without the suspended trio of skipper Marvelous Nakamba, Divine Lunga and Teenage Hadebe alongside Tino Kadewere, Nees handed full debuts to AmaZulu newboy Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya and Padera.
The rookies gave a good account of themselves but they couldn’t inspire the team to victory.
Nees said he was disappointed that they could not stem their slide after yesterday’s game.
“First of all, I want to congratulate my former team, 2006 and 2007 I coached them, and they were fighting very hard.
“They got the goal to decide the game. I want to congratulate them,’’ Nees said.
“But of course, we wanted to win against them. We are also disappointed, of course, because we wanted to turn this, can I say this a little bit of a result crisis, around, and also the fans, because we had, I’m not sure how many, but they always make a noise for three times as much as they hear.
“And we wanted to really give them a win. But we didn’t get it.
“We are not happy with the result, but happy with the performance, with the effort. I can be happy.”
The Warriors dominated the overall play but they were so blunt in front of goal, Knowledge Musona, Tawanda Chirewa, Gerald Takwara and Ngwenya all missing from close range.
“We must just tell in our game, maybe we must find a way to put the ball in the net, or more often, in the net.
“And that is definitely what was lacking today.
“We had the chance. We were dominating. I think the second half was one way football and in the box or around the box, we had so many men but the space was getting tighter and tighter, yet we still created.
“I think how many corners? Not sure, but I would guess so, 15 and so many free-kicks and also chances, clear cut chances to one other than the other time the goalkeeper makes a fantastic save. Sometimes in life things are against you.”
Zimbabwe had an explosive start as they didn’t hide their intention to win after losing last Friday’s game 1-0 to Benin.
But the more they tried, it seemed to be the more they failed to score and with it went their patience and focus.
Rwanda were dangerous on the flanks and in one of their many forays, they won a free-kick from, which they scored after some neat inter-play.
Two matches against Lesotho and South Africa remain, from which Zimbabwe can try to salvage wins and avoid the ignominy of ending their qualification bid without a win.
The Warriors would also need to get back to the culture of winning, which they badly need just a few months before they head off to Morocco for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
