Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
WARRIORS captain Marvellous Nakamba is happy with how Zimbabwe carried themselves in their goalless draw against Equatorial Guinea in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Group E qualifier on Thursday night.
Nakamba said although it was not the result that Zimbabwe were looking to clinch in Yaoundé, Cameroon, the point was worth the fight given the way their hosts desperately tried to make life difficult for the Ramon Catala charges.
“I am happy with how we played,” said Nakamba.
“We went to Cameroon to win, but a draw away from home is not a bad result. We were organised and disciplined. We fought for each other and showed a lot of character.
“The team is coming up and the chemistry is building.”
Zimbabwe were coming straight from their 1-2 defeat to Group E leaders DR Congo while their opponents had beaten basement team Sierra Leone last month. Equatorial Guinea threw just everything forward but Zimbabwe absorbed it all with new goalkeeper Nelson Chadya standing solid between the posts.
“We did not go there to defend for 90 minutes. We went there to play our football. We wanted to win the game,” said Nakamba.
“We had our chances. We could have scored. But sometimes football can give you anything. You play well, you create, but the goal does not come.
“The most important thing is that we did not lose. We did not concede. We kept a clean sheet away from home. That is a good turnout.”
Now on four points each, two behind Group E leaders DR Congo, Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea are fighting to cancel each other out and will meet in Match Day 4 of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at the National Sports Stadium on Monday.
Zimbabwe started the campaign with a 3-2 win over Sierra Leone before losing 2-1 to DR Congo. Equatorial Guinea started with a 2-0 loss in Kinshasa to DR Congo before beating Sierra Leone 1-0.
Now, after Thursday’s 0-0 draw, both teams are locked together both on four points and chasing down DR Congo.
“We got a point away. Now we must play well at home,” said Nakamba.
“We cannot be happy with just a draw in Cameroon and then come back home and lose. We must fight well on home soil. We must win at home.
“We will be playing in front of our fans. We will be playing at the National Sports Stadium. We must use that. We must make Harare a fortress.”
Nakamba encouraged the players to fight well on home soil and urged fans to come in numbers.
He knows what the National Sports Stadium can do when it is full. He knows what the Warriors fans can do when they are behind the team. He knows that on Monday, Zimbabwe will need a 12th man.
“I want to urge the fans to come in numbers,” said Nakamba.
“Come and support us. Come and fill the National Sports Stadium. Come and make noise for us. We need you.
“When we play at home, with our fans behind us, we are a different team. We feel the energy. We feel the love. We feel the support. That pushes us.
“We are fighting for Zimbabwe. We are fighting for the country. We are fighting for the flag. Come and fight with us,” said Nakamba.
Catala is expected to ring some changes in his squad as the Warriors chase a win that will leave them in a good space to qualify for the AFCON finals to be co-hosted in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya next year.
