Online Reporter
Petros Kausiyo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
WHEN Zimbabwe’s Warriors return to the National Sports Stadium for the first time in five years, there will be some déjà vu in their Africa Cup of Nations showdown against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Zimbabwe and DRC will clash in Matchday 2 of their 2027 Group E qualification campaign on September 28 in a night game at the National Sports Stadium. (Kick-off 6pm).
Interestingly, the last time the Warriors played a night match at their favourite hunting ground, DRC were their opponents in a 1-1 draw on October 16, 2018.
Then as now, it was an AFCON qualifier for the 2019 edition in Egypt.
Khama Billiat, now retired from international football, had thrust Zimbabwe into the lead in the first minute, scored the opening goal before Teenage Hadebe’s 24th minute own goal served as the equaliser for DR Congo.
Crucially, the point they gained that night kept Sunday Chidzambwa’s Warriors atop their group.
But after their meeting in Harare in 2018 ended 1-1, the Warriors and the Leopards clashed again in 2019 at the AFCON finals at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, in a game which Chidzambwa and veteran goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze would want to forget in a hurry.
This is because Chipezeze had a nightmarish evening between the posts with DRC powering to a 4-0 win that also effectively eliminated Zimbabwe from the tournament.
Cedric Bakambu, who plays for US Major Soccer League side San Diego, scored twice for the DRC in that comprehensive win over Zimbabwe to secure third place in Group A for the Congolese behind hosts Egypt and Uganda.
Chipezeze was then frozen out of the Warriors selection before the Magesi goalkeeper forced his way back into the reckoning following a string of fine performances in the South African Premiership.
Mamelodi Sundowns defender Divine Lunga, skipper Marvelous Nakamba and striker Tinotenda Kadewere are the only survivors from the side that featured in that Warriors’ last meeting with DRC in Egypt.
And as they look to return to the familiar surroundings of the National Sports Stadium, new Zimbabwe coach Ramon Catala will also be hoping that his men avoid defeat to the Congolese in this Warriors homecoming show, for which ZIFA have made a clarion call to the fans to fill the stadium to capacity.
The association opened ticket sales for the game, online and in some selected outlets around the country yesterday while indicating that no purchases will be done at the stadium on match-day.
But more worryingly for ZIFA is the battle to meet the financial obligations for the national teams’ commitments.
The association yesterday reiterated its appeal to the government, corporate sector and well-wishers to help bankroll the Warriors, Mighty Warriors, Men’s Under-23 and Boys Under-15 assignments in Morocco, Malawi, Mauritius and Uzbekistan.
New coach Stella Gopal and her Mighty Warriors face FIFA Women’s World Cup-bound Malawi in an Olympic Games qualifier away on October 9 and at home four days later.
Similarly, Marc Sanchez and his Young Warriors will face Mauritius at the National Stadium on September 30 before travelling to the Indian Ocean islanders on October 6.
“All these four assignments require that the squads go into camp and the players travel from their local and international bases.
