Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
Zimbabwe 0-1 Rwanda
ZIMBABWE’S wait for a win in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers continues. Even with no pressure and no prize at stake, the Warriors still managed to disappoint at Orlando Stadium yesterday.
A 39th-minute strike from Gilbert Mugisha was enough to condemn Michael Nees’ side to their fourth defeat of the campaign, leaving them bottom of Group C with just four points from eight games.
The result was all the more painful given that Zimbabwe had looked the brighter side before Rwanda’s goal, which came against the run of play.
Missing key players Marvelous Nakamba, Divine Lunga, Teenage Hadebe and Tino Kadewere, Nees handed full debuts to Prosper Padera and Thando Ngwenya. Both youngsters worked hard, but neither could change the Warriors’ fortunes.
“First of all, I want to congratulate the other side — my former team, I coached them in 2006 and 2007 — and they fought very hard. They got the goal that decided the game. I want to congratulate them.
“But of course, we wanted to win. We are disappointed because we hoped to turn this — can I say — result crisis around, and also for the fans. We really wanted to give them a win. We didn’t get it. We’re not happy with the result, but I’m happy with the performance and the effort. I can be happy,” Nees said after the match.
The Warriors dominated possession but squandered chance after chance. Ngwenya, Knowledge Musona, Tawanda Chirewa and Gerald Takwara all failed to convert from close range, while Rwanda’s goalkeeper made several crucial saves.
“We must just say in our game, maybe we need to find a way to put the ball in the net — or more often, in the net. That is definitely what was lacking today. We had the chances. We were dominating. I think the second half was one-way football… clear-cut chances, corners, free kicks. Sometimes in life, things go against you,” Nees admitted.
Zimbabwe started with urgency, eager to make amends for Friday’s 1–0 defeat to Benin. But the longer they went without scoring, the more their rhythm faded. Rwanda grew increasingly dangerous on the flanks, and one of their raids led to the free kick that produced Mugisha’s winner.
The Warriors still have two qualifiers remaining, against Lesotho and South Africa next month, where they will be playing for nothing more than pride.
