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The former Mighty Warriors captain turned 43 yesterday but lady luck was simply not on her side as they suffered their first defeat at home since their revival last year and have remained winless in all their encounters against the African champions
The result means the Cosafa champions now face a tall order when they travel to West Africa in two weeks for the reverse tie of the Afcon final qualifying round after they failed to utilise their home advantage.
It was just not their day as the Mighty Warriors who appeared to have stood their own against the World Cup finalists could have scored at least two goals and up to now still don’t understand how Tsitsi Mairosi’s stunning volley failed to hit the back of the net with Nigeria’s goalkeeper Precious Dede beaten in the 75th minute and how Rufaro Machingura five minutes earlier, despite being well positioned, failed to connect into the nets.
In the opening period with some fans hardly settled the Mighty Warriors had begun on a high note and could have been rewarded with a goal in the opening minute as they neatly swept forward but Nokuthula Ndlovu lost her footing while Ruvimbo Mutyavaviri’s long range also sent a statement to the Super Falcons.
The big striker Machingura could have at least been rewarded with a goal while Rudo Neshamba could have also scored for the Mighty Warriors but was casual whenever in possession.
The lack of a goal by the Mighty Warriors also denied Vice President Joice Mujuru who was seated in the VVIP tribune a chance to perform the Zora Butter dance and she only managed to do so as she was leaving the stadium.
It was the Nigerians who were rewarded in the 13th minute when Evelyn Nuwakubu scored a long range from a move which was initiated by four-time African best footballer Perpertua Nkwocha on the left flank. She flighted the ball into the box and Stella Mbachu set up the midfielder who drilled home.
The insurance goal which was the most agonising of the afternoon came in the 77th minute when Nigerian forward Mbachu left the defenders, in an ill-conceived offside trap set by the Mighty Warriors, and sent the ball home with Zambian referee Gladys Lengwe signalling a goal.
The goal, which came at a time when the Mighty Warriors had failed to beat the Nigerian goalkeeper a couple of times and an equaliser appeared imminent, took the steam out of the Mighty Warriors and left them dejected.
The fans who had come in their numbers for a paying crowd, irked by their technical department which was taking long to make changes and breathe life into the team, briefly turned against the Mighty Warriors and cheered Nigeria but as the Mighty Warriors gained momentum they began to cheer their team again.
While the Mighty Warriors had a decent showing especially in the first half they will somehow feel let down by the most senior player in the team, Ndlovu, who turned 29 two weeks ago and maybe age is now catching up with the left midfielder who used to roast defenders at will on the flank.
She was not the only one who had a bad day in the office as left back Ruvimbo Mutyavaviri, who returned home this week from a three month trial stint at Swedish top flight side Kalmar was also jittery.
The coach took a gamble throwing one of her senior defenders into the team after she had returned from an attachment where she failed to make the grade and land a European contract and on reflection will feel she should have stuck with Black Rhinos fullback Viola Ndlovu who was a revelation when she held fort in the two warm up matches against Zambia and Tanzania.
Mugadza defended the decision and said she hoped the player would bring in the cutting edge into a team which has all its players playing in the domestic league.
“We knew she was in Sweden and we expected her to be above other players. She tried her best but lacked match fitness. I think it was lack of composure by our strikers which cost us the match. We failed to convert our chances and if you fail to convert this will happen,” said Mugadza.
The coach said they would work extra hard for the reverse tie as anything could happen in football.
Nigerian coach Ikhana Kadiri, who has 32 years coaching experience and has coached Enyimba, said the Mighty Warriors surprised them with a tough show.
The coach refused to rule out Zimbabweans as yet.
“It is not over until it is over. This is football,” said Kadiri.
TEAMS
Zimbabwe: O. Chingawo, R. Mutyavaviri, N. Majika, L. Masase, D.Bhobho, K. Basopo, T. Mairosi, N. Ndlovu, M. Nyaumwe, R. Neshamba, R. Machingura.
Nigeria: P. Dede, D. Oparanozie, E. Onome, O. Ohadugha, R. Chikwelu, E. Ngozi, P. Nkochwa, E. Sunday, E. Nuwakubu, G. Akpa, S. Mbachu.
Sidumisile Mabena