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Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
Sierra Leone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2)2
Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)3
WARRIORS coach Ramon Catala wouldn’t have asked for more after seeing his charges overturn a 2-0 halftime scoreline to beat Sierra Leone in their opening match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Morocco last night.
It looked all bleak and black when Zimbabwe, in absolute disarray, conceded two first half goals both of which soft and on both occasions surprise goalkeeping pick Elvis Chipezeze culpable.
But Catala looked to have relayed some magical messages to his players during break and the second half was a totally different story.
Marshal Munetsi scored either side of Tawanda Chirewa’s rocket to give Catala a welcoming victory on his debut with the Warriors.
Marshall Munetsi’s brace, including the winner, ensured the Warriors collected three points.
It was a second half show fit for the archives in which every player gave their all and worked their socks off.
It could have even been more had Chirewa’s other goal counted, but the referee erroneously flagged it for offside.
Shane Maroodza was also fouled in the box in what could have been a penalty for Zimbabwe any other day.
But all that didn’t matter at the end of the day after the Warriors showed an indomitable spirit, fighting back not just to peg their opponents back, but to collect all the points and ensure a dream start to their quest for a place at the AFCON finals next year.
Last night’s comeback was surely their greatest in history given the manner in which they looked to have surrendered the battle before it was even halfway done.
Perhaps Catala lost it when he fielded what looked like an experimental side with the deployment looking even more suspect.
Traditional fullbacks Divine Lunga and Emmanuel Jalai started on the bench with Maroodza and Sean Fusire occupying the left and right side of a four-men defence respectively.
He had no outright winger in his three-man pronged attack of Thando Ngwenya, Tawanda Maswanhise and Chirewa.
And that looked evident as the three struggled to get past a disciplined Leone Stars defence.
But once Antonio came on, the channels opened up and Zimbabwe started having so many outlets to catch down their opponents.
The goals looked hard to come by though until Chirewa got a way past his marker to whip an inviting cross that Munetsi headed in to halve the deficit and ignite hope for Zimbabwe.
With the Warriors piling in the pressure, Sierra Leone looked vulnerable, not less with captain Marvelous Nakamba dictating the tempo of the game in the midfield.
Then Nakamba laid the ball on to Chirewa who left-footed it into the roof of the net.
That should have been enough for a side that had been 2-0 down at the interval, but the Warriors weren’t even done yet.
Right towards the end, Munetsi slid the ball in to all but secure the maximum points for Zimbabwe ahead of their second game against Group E leaders DRC at home next Monday.
DR Congo beat Equatorial Guinea 2-0 in the other group game in Kinshasa and when the Congolese line up against the Warriors on Monday evening at the National Sports Stadium, it will be a top-of-the-table battle.
“I am absolutely thrilled with the way the team fought their way back after falling 2-0 in the first half,” said Catala.
“I should give it to them for this never die attitude. They showed heart and acumen. I am really happy to have a group of young men willing to leave everything on the pitch for the sake of the badge.”
The match had started at the most disappointing note possible for Zimbabwe when the defence looked too passive, the midfield too flat and the goalkeeper perhaps showing he is not good enough for international football.
The goals that Sierra Leone scored were too soft for this level but as Catala said, credit should go to the entire team for clearing their minds and making efforts to fight back.
The fight back, that looked difficult if not impossible, was delivered in the sweetest manner possible.
The Warriors are expected back home today and will immediately shift their focus to the DRC game that will be their first to play before a home crowd since 2019.
