Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Warriors may be out of the World Cup race, but they still have something to fight for when they face Rwanda in Johannesburg tomorrow.
Zimbabwe’s faint hopes of reaching the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup ended on Friday after a 1-0 defeat to Benin in Abidjan.
That result left them bottom of Group C, 12 points behind leaders South Africa with only three games to go.
It means Michael Nees’ men will once again miss out on a historic World Cup debut. But they still have national pride to defend, and a first win in the qualifiers is now their main target.
The team arrived in Johannesburg yesterday after flying directly from Cote d’Ivoire and checked into their base with the help of Zifa’s logistical partners, Zororo Phumulani. A loosening session was held later in the day at Orlando Stadium, their adopted home for the past two years.
Coach Nees admitted the Benin defeat was painful but urged his players to shift focus quickly.
“It’s unfortunate we lost the match against Benin. But focus shifts now to our game against Rwanda,” he said.
“Yesterday we trained with players who didn’t start against Benin before we departed from Ivory Coast. We had light training today.
“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 rotate his squad and hand first time caps to young talents Tivonge Rushesha and Prosper Padera.
Star midfielder Jordan Zemura echoed his coach’s call for a response.
“We are not going to be that team which does not win games,” said Zemura.
“We need to start winning. The match against Rwanda will obviously be tough, but we are ready. There is a lot to play for. We need 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 the deck and we see what comes out.”
The Warriors will also be boosted by the return of vice captain Marshal Munetsi, who missed the Benin game through suspension.
Rwanda, who still hold an outside chance of qualifying, will come hard at Zimbabwe.
For Nees and his charges, though, this is about pride, redemption, and finally giving fans a long awaited victory in the qualifiers.
