Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
CARNIVAL scenes swept through Robert Mugabe International Airport yesterday as the Warriors lifted off for Morocco, carrying more than just kit bags and passports. They departed with belief, noise and a nation leaning forward as the Africa Cup of Nations finals roar into life on Sunday.
It began in Msasa, where the team had been camped for the past three weeks. Traffic slowed to a crawl as a colourful convoy rolled out, winding through Samora Machel Avenue, Glenara and Airport Roads, forcing motorists to pause and take it in. This was no quiet departure.
By the time the buses pulled up at the airport, a brass band was already in full voice. Singing, ululation and waving flags set the tone as fans gathered to see off Marian “Super Mario” Marinica’s men in fitting style.
A red carpet greeted the players as they stepped off the bus, briefly clogging the international departures gate. Phones were raised, cameras clicked and journalists and supporters squeezed in for a word, a photo, a moment. It was loud, crowded and alive.
It was organised chaos — the kind of spectacle supporters dream of when the national team travels. Scenes that instantly stirred memories of 2004, when Peter Ndlovu captained the Warriors on their maiden AFCON journey to Tunisia.
Zimbabwe have appeared at four other AFCON finals since then, but few departures carried this kind of heat. Most were polite. This one pulsed.
Something has shifted. There is a new mood sweeping across the country.
At the centre of it is fresh leadership at ZIFA, fronted by Nqobile Magwizi, whose credibility has already travelled far. Even President Mnangagwa felt compelled to chip in, contributing US$400,000 from his own pocket towards the AFCON campaign.
There is also a new man on the Warriors bench. Marinica arrives with a mark no Zimbabwe coach before him has carried into an AFCON tournament — he knows the route beyond the group stage.
There is a new captain too. Marvelous Nakamba steps in after the eras of Ndlovu, Benjani Mwaruwari in 2006, Willard Katsande in 2016 and Knowledge Musona in 2019 and 2021. Perhaps he brings a different kind of fortune — the kind Zimbabwe need to finally push through the ceiling.
Marinica led Malawi at the 2021 AFCON, played in 2022, and guided the Flames into the Round of 16.
The Warriors have never gone into the finals under a coach who has already walked that path. Expectations have shifted, and everyone knows it.
That feeling was everywhere at the airport. The players felt it too, knowing the roar will only grow louder if they deliver in Morocco, where they have been drawn in Group B with Egypt, South Africa and Angola.
With their flight scheduled for 7pm, the Warriors had loosened up earlier in the day at Rufaro Stadium to keep the edge sharp. What they saw later was something else entirely.
For close to half an hour, everything else at the airport froze. Stakeholders, fans and officials gave the team their moment — a send-off worthy of a squad trimmed down from an initial 56-man provisional list.
Some Europe-based players, including Andy Rinomhota, Sean Fusire and Jonah Fabisch, will link up with the team later.
Marinica was visibly moved. It was his first real encounter with supporters beyond the noise of social media, where some of his decisions — including leaving out injured midfielder Marshal Munetsi — had drawn debate.
Here, there was only warmth. Fans crowded around for selfies, offered advice and made their feelings clear. The coach listened, smiled and soaked it in.
In the end, his message was simple: unity.
Marinica said: “Let me say thank you all for giving up your time to support us. I want to say a big thank you to the Government of Zimbabwe for supporting us and especially to the Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Anselem Sanyatwe, who visited us twice encouraging us and giving us words of wisdom.
Special mention also goes to ZIFA and all its stakeholders for making our two camps available and to our sponsors Ecobank for additional support.
The Rufaro Stadium management and staff have been amazing, enabling us to train in suitable conditions, and to all the fans and supporters who are encouraging us. The local preparations have been good.
“I promise we will punch as hard as we can at the AFCON finals. We would have wanted to train with all the players, including those in the European leagues, but it is what it is. We couldn’t do that and will have to do it in a few days before we play our first game.
It’s unfortunate some key players are injured and we couldn’t include them in the team. I am calling for unity between the players and all stakeholders, including the fans, in the same manner we did when we played Qatar in that international friendly — when Zimbabwe looked like the home team with supporters singing throughout the match.”
The Warriors are expected to land in Marrakech today and will remain there until the weekend before travelling to Agadir for their opening fixture against Egypt on Unity Day.
They will then return to Marrakech for the rest of their group campaign, facing South Africa on Boxing Day and Angola three days later.
