Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo in MARRAKECH, Morocco
Just tighten your seat belts as the winner-takes-all Africa Cup of Nations contest between South Africa and Zimbabwe raves off at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in Morocco this evening.
The decisive Group B tie gets underway at 6pm.
It’s the first time the cross Limpopo rivals meet at the AFCON stage and nothing but fireworks are expected in Morocco’s fourth biggest city, nicknamed the “Red City” due to the exclusive red wall paintings on every structure here.
For the Warriors, there are no two ways.
Swim or sink.
They are on a single point after losing their opener 2-1 to Egypt and drawing 1-1 with Angola.
South Africa need a point as they are on three following a single win and a draw against Angola and Egypt respectively.
And today is the day of reckoning.
The prize is a slot in the Round-of-16.
Ready!
Warriors First 11 against Bafana Bafana
We are going with an outright attack oriented 4-3-3 formation
Washington Arubi (GK)
Munashe Garananga
Gerald Takwara
Brendan Galloway
Divine Lunga
Jonah Fabisch
Marvelous Nakamba
Bill Antonio
Daniel Msendami
Prince Dube
Tawanda Maswanhise
Musona, Hadebe out of Bafana tie
Former Kaizer Chiefs duo of Knowledge Musona and Teenage Hadebe are out of this evening’s decisive AFCON tie against South Africa.
The pair has been grounded by injuries and that has robbed the Warriors of key experience.
But that shouldn’t be a big deal.
This is tournament football and depth should now come to play.
Low turnout at the Limpopo Derby
That was to be expected for a Southern African Derby taking place in North Africa, the furthest that is to be for both Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The Grand Stade de Marrakech is virtually empty but one thing that is certainly feeling it is the emotion.
This is the biggest game the two neighbours have ever been involved in.
The hundreds of fans for both sets have enriched the atmosphere. They have greeted each other well. They know each other. They love each other. They live together, literally. But for the next 90minutes, they have to disagree. Strongly.
It’s showing in those terraces.
Zimbabweans are waving their own flags, singing their songs. Their neighbours are doing the same.
For now, the brotherhood has to take a back seat.
Such is the nature of football. It’s as beautiful as it is ugly. Seat belts on. The flight is about to take off.
Super Mario takes a leaf from Nees’ book
The last time out, Zimbabwe held South Africa in a 2026 World Cup, almost throwing the latter’s WC hopes through the window.
That draw was attained on the back of a disciplined defensive showing.
Emmanuel Jalai, the player every Zimbabwean loves was benched. Munashe Garananga was thrown at RB to clip Appollis.
That’s what Marian Marinica has done.
Of course there is nothing to defend but players like Appollis and Moremi should be taken care of.
Now the teams walk down the tunnel, back to the pitch.
National anthems up next before Moroccan referee Mustapha Kechkaf can get us underway.
Battle lines drawn
The rules are known. The stakes are high. The goal is the same. What a game we gonna have. And it is South Africa that gets us underway.
Warriors survive scare
First minute and South Africa had it their way till Mbule shot wide.
That’s not to be accepted. We resume play
South Africa scores
Just like that. Just six minutes on the clock.
It’s Moremi who curls it down and Lunga deflected it in.
We now have to work from the down.
Warriors too casual, too flat
You wonder whether we really want to compete. We are losing every duel. Every 50-50 battles. Arubi saved us from an early scare when Appollis was allowed to drill down the left.
He couldn’t do anything to stop that deflected goal.
We need to settle otherwise it will be a disaster.
Bill Antonio is down injured
You wonder how he gets injured in a match he is literally in the terraces.
Down the byline he walks out.
Goal!
1-1 Zimbabwe
Maswanhise is a genius!
Show me your Number Mbokazi! Yes it’s 19, Sir Maswanhise.
That slalom. That vision. That pace. That shot. Williams beaten hands down.
Back to square One.
Zimbabwe 1-1 South Africa
Warriors balance the scoresheet, general play
It now looks like a proper football match.
After that leveller by Maswanhise, Zimbabwe is throwing a blow for blow. They can’t be bullied. Now they need to be a bit compact in the midfield and in the right channel.
Garananga floats it over
Munashe Garananga finds some pockets to shoot. He does but with his weaker left.
The outcome?
As anticipated. Overbar. But very positive.
Warriors need a win
That’s the message Super Mario should be dishing. It’s as simple as that.
We needed to clip Bafana Bafana especially after going down early. We have done that. Now we need that edge. Whatever it takes, we need to win.
Warriors living dangerously
Marinica should find a way to deal with Appollis. He is left to have it his way quite too often. You wonder why Garananga is drifting back to CB when the ball goes to his flank.
Let’s right that wrong or we will be shredded by Appollis
We have 3 minutes of added time in the first half
Half Time
Zimbabwe 1-1 South Africa
Second half begins
Warriors need to find their range
They have shown that they are fighters, not least after also doing the same against Angola. But what they need is a win. Not a draw. We have 45minutes to get that winner and we will be through to the Round of 16
Oh it’s Divine again!
We are down again
2-1 to the negative
This is heartbreaking
Surely a defender of Lunga’s stature can’t do this. That was too poor from him. You want to head a high ball back to the goalkeeper? Then you generate little power to push it back. Foster comes and Arubi goes rather lackadaisically towards it. You can’t believe that’s a goal. No.
But such is football. We have to do it all over again
Caution to the wind
Triple Sub
Junior Zindoga, Tawanda Chirewa and Macauley Bonne are on for Prince Dube, Bill Antonio and Daniel Msendami
And hour gone and we are still 2-1 down
Maswanhise comes close
That was going to be 2-2. But the upright stood firm behind the ball. That close.
65’ Zimbabwe 1-2 South Africa
2-2 Warriors!
Aubrey Modiba with an own goal. It was a well worked ball from Maswanhise after a good pass from Chirewa.
We have 15 minutes to score the winner
Jalai is on for Garananga
Penalty South Africa.
Nakamba adjudged to have handled after a VAR check.
Appolis to take it
South Africa scores
2-3 we trail
History made
The tournament’s youngest player Tadiwa Chakuchichi is in for Fabisch. Just two minutes to go
Seven minutes added on
It ends and we are heading back home
Full time
Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa
