Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Zimbabwe……………………………………..0
Rwanda…………………….………………(1)1
IT seems the Warriors just can’t win − with or without pressure.
Already out of contention for a place at the 2026 World Cup, Zimbabwe needed to restore some pride in this qualifier at Orlando Stadium yesterday.
After all this was against opponents they held to a draw in their backyard at the start of this World Cup campaign.
Back then, the Warriors were under coach Baltemar Brito and the baton has since changed hands with Michael Nees now in charge of the team.
The German coach will be under considerable pressure after his team once again failed to win − and also failed to score.
The Warriors had nothing to lose and the license to explore and try to get a win but they still came short.
A 39th minute goal by Gilbert Mugisha condemned Zimbabwe to their fourth defeat in what has proven to be a terrible qualifying campaign for Nees’ side.
Veteran ‘keeper Washington Arubi will have to review his reaction as he appeared to dive late in a game where the expectation was that Nees would give Elvis Chipezeze a chance.
We still anchor Group C standings with just four points in eight outings.
Yet we were the better side until that goal, which came against the run of play, stunned the Warriors.
Without the suspended trio of Marvelous Nakamba, Divine Lunga and Teenage Hadebe, Nees handed a debut to Prosper Padera and Thando Ngwenya.
The youngsters gave a decent account of themselves but they couldn’t inspire the team to victory.
Nees said:
“First of all, I want to congratulate the other side, which was my former team, in 2006 and 2007 I coached them, and they were fighting very hard.
“They got the goal to decide the game. I want to congratulate them.
“But, of course, we wanted to win against them. We are also disappointed, of course, because we wanted to turn this, can I say this a little bit result crisis, around?
“And, also the fans, because we had, I’m not sure how many, but they always make a noise.
“And we wanted to really give them a win. But we didn’t get it. We are not happy with the result but happy with the performance, with the effort.”
The Warriors dominated the overall play but they were toothless in front of goal.
Ngwenya, Knowledge Musona, Tawanda Chirewa and Gerald Takwara all had some decent chances.
“We had the chances. We were dominating. I think the second half was one-way football and in the box or around the box, we had so many men but the space was getting tighter and tighter, yet we still created.
“I think how many corners? Not sure, but I would guess 15 and so many free kicks, and also chances, clear-cut chances, the other time the goalkeeper makes a fantastic save.
“Sometimes in life things are against you.”
Zimbabwe had an explosive start as they didn’t hide their intention to win after losing last Friday’s game 1-0 to Benin. But the more they tried and the more they failed to score, the more they lost focus.
Rwanda were dangerous on the flanks and in one of their many forays, they won a free-kick from which they scored after some neat interplay.
Until you admit that we go into these competitions to add numbers, the embarrassment will continue. Get back to the drawing board. Look for local talent. Leave out these diasporans and geriatrics. They aren’t adding any value to our football. I can challenge anyone now to pick the best of the Warriors that will come up against the best of local players from the four D1 leagues. I bet Warriors will lose. Zimbabwe must stop embarrassing themselves.