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Fungai Muderere
WHEN they trooped into the cauldron of Egypt’s Cairo International Stadium on Thursday night to face the Cranes of Uganda, the Warriors were looking for their third Africa Cup of Nations win.
With the 2019 Afcon finals still on, Zimbabwe are having their fourth appearance at the games and that third victory at the finals eluded Sunday Chidzambwa’s men on Thursday as they were held to a one-all draw in their second group match of the 32nd edition of Africa’s soccer extravaganza.
In their first game against hosts Egypt, the Knowledge Musona-captained side succumbed to a 1-0 loss and their Thursday night game was their eleventh match at the Nations Cup in which they have managed to score a total of 13 goals against a massive 23 goals with one group match to spare.
Legendary Peter “Nsukuzonke” Ndlovu managed three goals at the finals and there were single goals by his late elder brother Adamski, Esrom Nyandoro, Joel Luphahla, Benjani Mwaruwari, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Nyasha Mushekwi, Knowledge Musona and Tendai Ndoro before this year’s contest.
Gifted forward Khama Biliat, who got the Warriors’ equaliser against Uganda, became the ninth player to score at the Afcon finals for Zimbabwe.
A closer look at the goals since 2004 suggests that seven of the Warriors Afcon goals have come from players that have a background from Zimbabwe’s second largest city, Bulawayo.
The other one came courtesy of an own goal by Issa Gabriel in the country’s 2-1 victory against the Black Stars of Ghana.
So in 11 games at the Afcon finals that the Warriors have played so far, they have managed to post two wins (Ghana and Algeria), two draws (Uganda and Algeria) and seven defeats at the hands of Nigeria, Cameroon, Tunisia and twice to Egypt and Senegal.
Sunday Chidzambwa (then Marimo), in charge in 2004, has taken charge of six Afcon finals matches for Zimbabwe. From a possible 18 points he has got four points meaning his success rate stands at 22% ahead of his charges last Group A encounter against Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday.
Charles Mhlauri was in charge of the team in 2006 where the Nsukuzonke captained, just like the Class of 2004, managed to get single win leaving the dreadlocked coach at a success rate of 33%.
Before the Sunday game against DRC, Warriors goal difference stands at -1. In 2017, Warriors kissed goodbye to Africa soccer biennial showcase with a goal difference of -4, the worst ever since first country’s first appearance. In 2004, Chidzambwa’s men had a goal difference of -2 while Mhlauri’s charges finished their campaign at -3.
The Warriors have so far not managed to score in four Afcon matches (Senegal 2- Zimbabwe 0, Senegal 2-Zimbabwe 0, Nigeria 2 Zimbabwe 0, Egypt 1 Zimbabwe 0).
Five is the highest number of goals that the Warriors have conceded (Cameroon 5 Zimbabwe 3 in 2004). Interestingly, from that same game the Warriors scored their highest number of goals since their debut appearance at the finals.
From their debut dance and second appearance at the finals, the Warriors had always won their last matches, posting identical 2-1 wins against Algeria and Ghana in 2004 and 2006 respectively.
Two years ago, a win over Tunisia, coupled with a loss for Algeria to Senegal could have seen Kalisto Pasuwa’s team make it to the quarter-finals for the first time.
In that regard, after watching Musona squandering numerous chances against Uganda, on the night Chidzambwa and his lieutenants saw it fit not to bring in players that possess offensive play it remains to be seen if this success-starved nation will turn on the power and account for DRC.
Go Warriors! Score Warriors!
Online Reporter