Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo in JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
COACH Marian “Mario” Marinica knows that fine margins determined the Warriors’ fate at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
For the sixth time, Zimbabwe exited the continental showpiece at the group stage after suffering defeats to Egypt and South Africa and drawing with Angola in Group B.
The most painful part is that the Warriors could have advanced to the Round of 16 with just two points had they managed to hold on to a 2-2 draw against Bafana Bafana in their final pool match in Marrakech on Monday.
But they conceded a late penalty when captain Marvelous Nakamba, in a desperate attempt to block what he thought was a goal-bound effort, handled the ball. A VAR check confirmed the infringement, awarding a spot-kick to the neighbours, which winger Oswin Appollis converted to seal Zimbabwe’s fate.
Yet the tournament marked a notable milestone: for the first time since their maiden Afcon appearance in 2004, the Warriors scored in every match. In fact, they have now found the net in five consecutive games — a feat not achieved in over a decade. However, defensive frailties proved costly in North Africa, a concern Marinica, just 40 days into the job, was quick to highlight.
His deeper worry, though, lies with the local league, which he believes should produce competitive players capable of performing at the highest level. He pointed to South Africa’s squad, largely composed of locally-based players who regularly feature in the Caf Champions League, as an example of what Zimbabwe should aspire to.
“Well, I think the team is on the rise. I said before that unfortunately, they had 15 matches without a win and now we still haven’t got that winning streak. We won a match against Qatar in a friendly, which was fantastic. I said we’d change our attitude completely – we’d look to score goals – and we are scoring in every match. We’re also creating lots of chances. So the players’ philosophy and state of mind have changed. We are looking now to be a completely different team.
“On the other hand, there needs to be a lot of thinking and groundwork done from grassroots level and also in the Premier Soccer League. We need players to be ready for this kind of level. If you look at Bafana Bafana, they have players from local leagues who regularly play at a very high level in the Caf Champions League. They are a very strong team. Can we also get this type of player from our local leagues?”
Marinica believes this can be achieved if the domestic league becomes stable and starts importing talent rather than consistently exporting its own.
“At the same time, instead of being an exporting country of talent, can we become an importing country?
This way, maybe we can compete for trophies with our clubs, have better-prepared players for the national team and start rebuilding.
“And, you know, March is just around the corner when the 2027 Afcon qualifiers kick off. We’ll look to get as many results as possible then. It’s a short turnaround, but I think Zifa knows exactly what they are doing and we are on a very good pathway.”
The Warriors enjoyed strong backing in Morocco, even from locals, thanks to their evident organisation on and off the pitch. They were immaculately dressed for official events by Zifa’s formal wear partners, 4 May International, while their local brand, Warrior Pride, won admiration from neutrals and diasporans alike, with replica kits in high demand.
While in 2019 Zimbabwe needed a win in their last group game against DR Congo to progress, this time even a draw would have sufficed. That means this was the closest the Warriors have ever come to qualifying for the second round despite having a new coach. The Zifa executive, led by Nqobile Magwizi and only months into its tenure, will need time to perfect its systems.
This was the first time the Warriors matched every opponent they faced, and with a bit of luck, they could have won all their group games. Meanwhile, the squad has now dispersed, with locally-based players arriving back in the country yesterday afternoon.
