Mugove Chigada
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Thursday was merely the first assault on the walls; tomorrow in Harare is the second, and it could decide who holds the fortress.
In Yaounde, the Warriors fought like a garrison under siege, managing a goalless draw that gave them a fighting chance in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Group E qualifiers.
Equatorial Guinea await again.
No single battle ever settled war, but this one can.
When the Warriors walk into the National Sports Stadium tomorrow, not only will they be seeking to win their first match since the stadium was reopened after renovations.
But they have a far bigger mission.
A win against Equatorial Guinea puts destiny into their hands for AFCON finals qualification.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) lead Group E with nine points from three games. Both Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea are on four points after the same number of matches, while Sierra Leone are bottom of the group with zero.
Coach Ramon Catala is under no illusion as to the task ahead and he believes a win will change a lot of things in the group.
“If we are to win the next game, we will be in a good position to qualify for the next edition of the finals,” Catala said.
“I’m happy with the point. With the match we had to play, that point is important.”
The Spaniard knows that survival is not victory. He will be the first to tell you that they must stay true to the spirit of “El Cid” — a figure who became a legend not by holding out for a draw, but by knowing when to ride through the gates and strike.
That is the shift Zimbabwe must now make: from defending the citadel at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Cameroon to launching the counter-attack.
Catala is demanding more.
“The sacrifice of the team with the ball and without the ball . . . There is no doubt that we have to improve in the next game,” he said.
What was particularly concerning was the amount of fire that goalkeeper Nelson Chadya had to face.
“We will try to put in some aspects to the game like having more of the ball. We expect the match to be totally different from the one we played,” said Catala.
Will home advantage work for the Warriors?
“African football is so difficult to win away from home. So, playing at home, we are happy to have that point,” he said.
Going into that first leg, Tawanda Chirewa was supposed to be one of the X-factors for the team.
But along the way, things changed as Zimbabwe had to think of how to defend effectively. He was pulled early in the second half as Catala tried to reinforce the midfield.
The Wolves star remains upbeat and believes they have good players and the ability to get a result.
“We see the quality that we have and the hunger that we have. And we can say 100 percent we will achieve something in AFCON,” Chirewa said.
“Now I’m at a place where I have minutes at the club and I come here to try and impact the game. It is a different pressure here and I want to be one of the best players ever for Zimbabwe. Hopefully we get the job done and qualify.”
Captain Marvelous Nakamba is also not playing down the task ahead of them.
He says they will need to feed off the fans in the terraces.
“We are now looking forward to the Monday game in front of our fans and we urge them to come in numbers and support the team,” said Nakamba.
“We need their support as always and we will give everything for our beloved country in front of our family and fans.
“It was a tough game and the most important thing is we managed to hold on, got a point, and live to fight another day.”
With Catala promising to ensure the team must have more ball possession, it could be good news for striker Tino Kadewere, who was forced at times to come back deep and collect the ball.
Not enough chances were created for the striker to make a difference, but his presence in the box ensured Equatorial Guinea were on their feet.
Going into the game, Kadewere had pointed out that he was in good shape to deliver for Zimbabwe.
“If you look at the team, we are moving in the right direction. We have a good opportunity to work this out,” he said.
“Each game is like a final and each game will count a lot. We stand a chance and the most important thing is to take this game as a final, the last game we have before qualification. It’s important to think that way.”
About 25 000 fans will back Zimbabwe tomorrow, but it is never the bigger army that wins, but according to Catala’s true fashion, “the better-prepared one”.
