Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere, [email protected]
WITH Zimbabwe’s World Cup Qualifier campaign all but over, fans reflect on who stays, who goes and what the future holds for the Warriors.
Reacting to the Warriors’ 2-2 draw against Benin and 1-1 stalemate against Nigeria, the local football fraternity was left with a huge sense of belief, saying the senior national team German coach Michael Nees, is really in the kitchen, preparing a team that has all the potential to conquer all and sundry. It is the manner in which the Warriors fought back in Nigeria with Tawanda Chirewa coming to the rescue, to score Zimbabwe’s equaliser at a packed and heaving, Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
It was a goal that came right at the death of the match to cancel Victor Osimhen’s goal, much to the amusement of Zimbabweans and football neutrals from other countries.
“My confidence has grown in the last year, every camp, I believe more and more, even though they changed (players) often in the past, but you see in the last camps, it’s now the same players.
“It means the coach has found his team. I am confident in the team, we’ve seen them playing in the last three or four games against good opponents, good games, so there’s quality and potential in this group,” said Cathrine Mkhwananzi, a soccer enthusiast.
“That was a really good show by the boys. They played as a unit and defended well. They showed some tactical discipline.
“This is a squad that must be kept together and help them prepare for the pending Afcon finals,” said Tavengwa Zidya, a local lawmaker and football fan.
Popular local football follower MaCloud Moyo, said he was really impressed by how the Warriors performed.
“It was a great performance from our Warriors, at a time some did not give them any chance to do well. The boys need to keep on believing in themselves. I was happy to see the short Emmanuel Jalai stand tall and absorb all the pressure that came on the right flank,” said Moyo.
The South African football community is celebrating the Warriors’ bravery as it boosted their own Bafana Bafana’s chances of winning the group and securing a ticket to the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
South Africa’s Bafana Bafana are now overwhelming favourites to qualify for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers following a 2-0 victory over Benin in another Group C match that was played on Tuesday night.
It was no wonder that when Warriors substitute, Tawanda Chirewa, got the equaliser for the Warriors against the Super Eagles, South Africans took to social media to salute the Warriors for stealing a point from their opponents and keep Bafana Bafana on track.
Meanwhile, Warriors veteran goal minder Washington Arubi’s breathtaking performance between the sticks played a pivotal role in the Warriors’ ability to survive Nigeria’s early onslaught, making him one of the standout players in the match and earning his place in the prestigious squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The Africa Soccer Zone 2026 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers Matchday 6 squad is filled with big names from across the continent, including Abubeker Nasir, Amereck Abameyaung, Mohamed Amoura, Jordan Ayew, Bryan Mbeumo, Elio Capradossi, Chancel Mbemba and Ali Abdi. — @FungaiMuderere
