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That result left Zimbabwe firmly anchored at the bottom of the group with just one point from three matches while the Pharaohs, unbeaten in this qualification campaign stretched their lead at the top to five points ahead of second-placed Guinea.
Guinea, who beat Zimbabwe 1-0 at the National Sports Stadium in the opening group match last year, fought a 0-0 stalemate against Mozambique in Maputo with the Mambas earning only their second point from yet another draw at home.
But after falling at home against Guinea, and drawing away to Mozambique, the Warriors had always found themselves in a very difficult situation to try and rescue a campaign that went horribly off the rails from Day One under Rahman Gumbo.
Interim coach, Klaus-Dieter Pagels, has however assembled a new team that played its first competitive game in Tuesday night’s qualifier against Egypt. The manner in which Pagels’ team fought long and hard in Alexandria left the German gaffer’s deputy Mutasa convinced that they were on the right track. The former Kiglon and Dynamos coach reckoned that Zimbabweans only needed to be patient with the rebuilding exercise their coach had embarked on.
“I think our boys gave a good account of themselves considering that it was our second game and the first competitive since this team came together. It is a pity that we conceded both goals from set pieces but we created good chances in the first half and unfortunately we could not get the goals. I think it could have been a different story if we had managed to score first. Before the game the coach had emphasised to the players that they had to start from somewhere in order for them to get recognition and to their credit they went in there with determination and hungry to make a mark. My message to the nation is that let’s give these guys the support. If you look at one of the great Manchester United squads, it was built from young players like David Beckham and the Neville brothers and they went on to do great things because there was patience, consistency and continuity ,’’ Mutasa said.
Mutasa however, attributed their loss to loss of concentration that emanated from his players getting tired.
“The coach had said we should take the game to the Egyptians and we were pressing them very well but as the game progressed there was an element of tiredness and we allowed them room to come at us’’.
Indeed as the Pharaohs, fired on by speedy forwards upped their game, it forced the Warriors on the back foot and the visitors began conceding a number of fouls near goalkeeper Washington Arubi’s area.
In one of those Egyptian attacks centre back Lincoln Zvasiya conceded a foul when he handled just outside the box and Egypt midfielder Hosny Abdraboul scored.
Online Reporter