Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Warriors may already be out of the reckoning for a place at the 2026 World Cup, but they still have a lot to play for in the qualifiers.
Their hopes of making the historic 48-team cast in next year’s global fiesta to be co-hosted in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico, went out the window last Friday.
The 1-0 defeat to Benin in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, in match-day seven of the qualifiers, left them trailing Group C leaders South Africa by 12 points with three games remaining.
While they have failed in their bid to snatch what would have been their maiden ticket to the ultimate football jamboree on the planet, the Warriors still have to work and salvage national pride.
They face Rwanda at Orlando Stadium, for two years their adopted home, in South Africa in match-day eight of the qualifiers tomorrow.
The Michael Nees boys, who have previously been under Baltemar Brito and Jairos Tapera, will be primarily chasing for a first win in the qualifiers.
They are sitting rock-bottom in Group C after getting draws in four of the seven games played so far and they will try and win the remainder against Rwanda, Lesotho and South Africa.
That task starts tomorrow against Rwanda who still entertain some hopes of making it to North America next year.
The Warriors flew straight from Cote d’Ivoire and arrived in Johannesburg early yesterday and were ushered to their base by ZIFA’s logistical partners in South Africa, Zororo Phumulani.
They held a loosening session late yesterday.
Speaking after the session, Nees said: “It’s unfortunate we lost the match against Benin. But focus shifts now to our game against Rwanda.
“Yesterday (on Saturday) we trained with players who didn’t start against Benin before we departed from Cote d’Ivoire. We had light training today (yesterday).
“Yea, we need to be fair competitors, other teams are still searching for something.
“We also need to win. We need something positive, we want to change our face.”
Nees is expected to also give other players a chance to showcase themselves with the likes of Tivonge Rushesha and Prosper Padera likely to get their full national team debuts.
The German gaffer’s sentiments were also echoed by star midfielder Jordan Zemura.
“We are not going to be that team which does not win games,” Zemura said.
“We need to start winning games. The match against Rwanda will obviously be tough.
“But we are ready for them. There is a lot to play for. We need to get some sort of redemption in these qualifiers by winning the match.
“We also need to protect and fight for our badge. It’s that simple. So all hands on deck, and we see what comes out.”
The Warriors will be buoyed by the return of vice-captain Marshal Munetsi who missed the match against Benin through suspension.
