Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Zimbabwe………………………..………..(0)1
DR Congo……………………….…………(2)2
THERE were positive vibes before, during and after this 2027 AFCON qualifier showdown except that it all ended in this defeat at the National Sports Stadium last night.
Zimbabwe were undone by first half goals from Yoane Wissa and Samuel Moutoussamy although they did find their consolation deep in second half added time through Marshal Munetsi.
It was a night that the fans, who came in numbers, cheered on just about everything, after getting to finally watch the Warriors in action after seven years.
Even President Mnangagwa was there to witness the grand occasion in which the Warriors were playing in front of their own people after a long time.
The last time that Zimbabwe played at home with fans available was in 2019 against the same opponents in search of the same mission.
Although the Warriors did play at the National Sports Stadium in 2021 against Zambia, Ghana, South Africa and Ethiopia, Covid-19 protocol meant fans were restricted.
And, for the past five years, the supporters couldn’t get to watch their national team at home as the National Sports Stadium had been banned from hosting international games because it didn’t meet CAF standards.
But, after some massive upgrade including the installation on bucket seats, the arena was allowed to host international games.
And the homecoming was fittingly met with cheers from the supporters and the presence of President Mnangagwa.
However, things didn’t quite go according to plan in the field of play after the Warriors largely played second fiddle to their guests.
This match was never going to be easy for Zimbabwe given what the DR Congo have achieved in recent years including their strong showing at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
But the Zimbabweans were always ready to give it their all to get a positive result that could correspond with the celebratory atmosphere.
Their fighting spirit led by captain Marvelous Nakamba, who never sat a foot wrong, was next level and in a way, the culpability of goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze, not for the first time, sort of gifted the Congolese their first goal.
Chipezeze failed to effectively deal with a casual cross into the box, opting to grab the ball instead of fisting it away and expectedly, the ball dropped off with Wissa literally rolling it into an empty net.
That should have dispirited the whole team and from that moment, just half-an-hour into the game, DRC took the game to Zimbabwe.
The Warriors looked disoriented and sometimes hopeless especially after Thando Ngwenya failed to score in a one-versus-one situation five minutes after Zimbabwe had conceded.
They were always on the back foot, fluffing their footing and failing to pick the second ball.
Munetsi and Bill Antonio came close to scoring but failed to hit the target.
With a 0-2 disadvantage at the break, the Warriors never lost hope and even their fans, not less after their heroic 3-2 comeback win over Sierra Leone in their first Group E game last Thursday in Morocco having gone to the break trailing by the same scoreline. Coach Ramon Catala made some key changes bringing in Emmanuel Jalai and Sean Fusire at the resumption and the momentum shifted in the Warriors favour.
But even then, they were never at ease allowing the Congolese to enjoy more.
More possession. More energy. And everything else. “Obviously we are disappointed with the defeat,” said Catala.
“DRC have been together for the past five years and their quality is good.
“We have picked a lot of positives and we can build from there.”
Zimbabwe remained on three points after losing one and winning one ahead of the second international break in November.
