WARRIORS GALLANT FIGHT IN VAIN

Mugove Chigada

Deputy Sports Editor

THE Warriors were not given a chance, but at the Stade de Agadir in Morocco last night, they still stayed true to their name against giants Egypt

And the 2-1 defeat was not a true reflection of the fight Marian Marinica’s men gave.

It didn’t matter Egypt had lifted the AFCON title seven times and reached the final on 10 occasions.

It didn’t matter Zimbabwe had never beaten them at this tournament or progressed to the knock-out stages.

Marvelous Nakamba and company still showed real spirit.

It was Prince Dube goal after 20 minutes that gave Zimbabwe a glimmer of hope. But Omar Marmoush equalised after 64 minutes before Mohamed Salah ended the contest at the death.

But for years to come, this battle will not be told in that simple manner.

Rather, it was a true epic night

Washington Arubi, on many occasions kept the Warriors in the game , and it was his save in the 38th minute that capped it all.

Even then, at 1-0, Zimbabwe were far from getting a result here, against the Pharaohs with so much documented history on the pitch and beyond football.

And after 43 minutes when Trezeguet was booked for simulation, it summarised Egypt first half nightmare.

If there was a moment the Warriors needed confidence to propel them, it was then, with Daniel Musendami appearing a more established player.

Egyptian star Salah had hoped for a great start and in the opening minutes looked threatening, with Teenage Hadebe glittery moments not helping the situation.

The Warriors withered the storm against odds.

If the Egyptians had planned for Knowledge Musona, Tawanda Maswanhise and Tawanda Chirewa, they got the shock of their life.

It was Musendami that gave them a run for their money.

In the middle of the park, Nakamba carried the burden of captaincy and Jonah Fabisch made a mockery of the Egyptians stars that took turns to try and penetrate through the middle.

It was after 64 minutes that the Warriors allowed Marmoush to get the equaliser for Egypt, a moment of brilliance created at the Etihad and delivered at the Stade de Agadir.

Towards the end, it was a lot of pressure from Egypt. And at the end, it was Salah that delivered the blow.

But history will record that at this 14th meeting between Zimbabwe and Egypt, the Warriors gave it their all.

In the other 13 meetings, Egypt had dominated the matches, winning eight drawing four and losing just a match.

The previous Africa Cup of Nations between the two nations was in 2004 and 2019 tournaments, both opening matches and won by Egypt.

In 2004 in Sfax, Tunisia, Zimbabwe scored through Peter Ndlovu in a 2-1 loss. It was a match Tamer Abdel Hamid and Mohamed Barakat secured the match for Egypt.

At the 2019 edition, Egypt defeated Zimbabwe 1-0 , with Mahmoud Trezeguet finding the back of the net for the hosts.

That Egypt were unbeaten in 10 matches going into yesterday’s game (W7 D3), showed how much of an underdog Marinica’s men were.

And that Zimbabwe’s only win over the Pharaohs was back in 1992 in a World Cup qualifier, showed the gulf between the two nations.

Going into the showdown, Salah had last scored against Zimbabwe back in 2013, a hat-trick when Egypt beat Zimbabwe 4–2 in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Egypt had scored at least two goals in five of their last six matches against Zimbabwe, and they kept that record intact.

This result came after South Africa’s 2-1 win over Angola in the first group B match.

This means the Warriors must be at Angola at all costs to entertain chances of progressing to the next stage.

That result had made life difficult for the other three, hence Egypt’s fierce fight. Lyle Foster superb winner from outside the box is all that Bafana Bafana needed to collect maximum points and leave Zimbabwe’s next opponents, in the mud.

Egypt will now cancel each other with South Africa in a game that could further define the group.

In that first game, South Africa took the lead on 21 minutes when Oswin Appollis class before putting it away. Angola equalised before the break after Show got a touch to Fredy’s free kick.

Then came the magic moment, after 79 minutes, when Foster curled his shot to give the Angola goalie no chance.