Warriors get Cosafa campaign underway

Jairos Tapera

WARRIORS coach Jairos Tapera believes the Cosafa Cup tournament presents a chance for redemption for the country’s flagship side following their dismal performance in the World Cup Qualifiers earlier this month.

Zimbabwe will get their Group B campaign in Gqeberha underway with a clash against Comoros this afternoon. Group B also consists of Zambia and guest nation Kenya, who replaced Malawi.

The Warriors will be making a return to the regional competition after missing the previous edition due to a Fifa ban.
Leading to the tournament, the Warriors lost two of their qualifiers against Lesotho and South Africa in disappointing fashion.

They lost 2-0 to Lesotho before a 3-1 loss to South Africa a few days later.
Tapera wants to use the Cosafa tournament to bring back smiles on the Zimbabwe football fraternity.

“We had disappointing results in the World Cup Qualifiers but we have regrouped with a new squad comprising about three-quarters of the players under the age of 23. We met and discussed the disappointments. Making them (players) aware that we are here to get as many wins as possible. We are expecting positive results from these boys,” said Tapera.

He added: “We are looking at doing better for the country. We are expecting them (players) to make us proud again. Coming into this tournament we need to qualify for the semi-finals. That is one target that we have at all costs. It’s a challenging group and the other teams know it as well. They know Zimbabwe is a powerhouse in terms of performances at Cosafa. We are no pushovers at all. We can’t expect anything more than to progress to the next round and make the nation proud and have them smiling once again.”

Comoros collected their first-ever win in the Cosafa Cup after a victory over Seychelles in the 2009 tournament in Zimbabwe, their second appearance at the regional showpiece.

They performed admirably in that event, also securing a draw against Botswana, but a 3-0 loss to Eswatini meant that they bowed out in the first round.

It was an improvement on their first showing in 2008 when they lost all three games without scoring a goal.
They did not compete between 2013 and 2017.

The team returned for the 2018 Cosafa Cup and although they took only one point from their three games, it was an improved showing.

The side drew 1-1 with Seychelles, before a 3-0 loss to Mozambique and a 1-0 reversal at the hands of Madagascar.
That would be the catalyst for a first-ever knockout appearance in 2019 as they topped their three-team pool following the withdrawal of Angola after a win against Mauritius (2-1) and a draw with Eswatini (2-2).

That set up a quarter-final with a powerful Zimbabwe side where they lost 2-0, before a defeat at the hands of Malawi in the Plate semi-finals.

They were forced to withdraw from the 2021 tournament that was held in Gqeberha, and suffered first-round exits in 2022 and 2023.

The steady improvement of the side has been perfectly illustrated in their qualification for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, the first time they appeared at the continental event.
They beat Ghana in the group stages but lost to the hosts in the round of 16.

Warriors squad:
Goalkeepers: Marley Tavaziva (Brentford), Raphael Pitisi (Highlanders), Joseph Kaunda (Manica Diamonds)
Defenders: Shane Maroodza (Huddersfield), Godknows Murwira (CAPS United), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bhora), Tawanda Chisi (Manica Diamonds), Malvern Hativagoni (Bulawayo Chiefs)
Midfielders: Joey Phuthi (Sheffield Wednesday), Tatenda Tavengwa (Venda FC), McKinnon Mushore (Highlanders), Richard Hachiro (Ngezi Platinum), Donald Mudadi (Dynamos), Kingsley Mureremba (CAPS United), Tinotenda Meke (GreenFuel), Panashe Mutimbanyoka (FC Platinum), Juan Mutudza (FC Platinum)
Forwards: Michael Tapera (Manica Diamonds), Never Rauzhi (Bulawayo Chiefs), Takunda Benhura (Ngezi Platinum), Washington Mapuya (GreenFuel).
-@innocentskizoe