Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sport
Mauritius . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
FAVOURITES Zimbabwe paid the price for their lack of a cutting edge upfront when they dropped two crucial points when being restricted by minnows Mauritius in their 2025 COSAFA Cup football opener at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa last night.
Despite being the dominant side for much of the encounter, the youthful Zimbabwe outfit could not find their range in the second of the Group A matches on Matchday One of the tournament.
Mozambique shot to the top of the standings after edging hosts South Africa 1-0 in an earlier game.
Coach Simon Marange and his developmental side must now quickly pick themselves up for their next assignments against South Africa on Saturday, the same day that Mozambique will be hoping to extend their lead at the top with a possible victory over Mauritius.
In yesterday’s game, Marange started with those players who have been having significant game time under their belts at their clubs, including Finland-based midfielder Prosper Padera, who showed he is in a class of his own with a commanding display.
The other foreign-based player Kennedy Mupimba, who plays in the English lower tier did show some flashes of brilliance but didn’t quite register his name on the outstanding men’s roster before he was pulled off due to an injury.
The injury looked nasty, as he cluttered his calf, which he appeared to have pulled while on an off-the-ball moment and might miss the decisive next Group A game against South Africa on Saturday.
National Under-20 coach Marange knows that after Bafana Bafana fell in their opener, his charges would need to not only eliminate the hosts but also stay within touching distance of the Mambas.
Despite their lack of experience as only captain Andrew Mbeba and goalkeeper Martin Mapisa have seen action at the highest level, the Warriors were expected to pick up the maximum points.
They showed the hunger and the zeal to wrap it up, but Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya and Tinotenda Meke lacked the precision on several occasions when they had the opportunities.
It was a match when the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) also intervened to chalk off Ngwenya’s effort.
The FC Platinum striker had the ball at the back of the net but VAR detected an offside, and the goal was overturned after a review.
If the VAR had disadvantaged Zimbabwe, then Mauritius had their turn to be disappointed too as Stephan Christopher De’s strike, which could have seen them take the maximum points was flagged after VAR spotted a handball in the build-up.
Malawian referee Godfrey Nkhananga was always on point in relation to the use of VAR.
But the Warriors were not on point when several scoring chances presented themselves, allowing Mauritius, who rarely go beyond the COSAFA Cup group stages, to squeeze a draw against the six-time champions.
Only the group winners progress to the semi-finals which make Zimbabwe’s matches against South Africa and Mozambique must-win affairs.
They now need to beat both South Africa and Mozambique to progress to the semi-finals with only group winners securing places in the last four.
“I am happy with what I saw in these youngsters but I think the result is not what we all wanted.
“We should have done better in some situations but we will fight again in the next match,” Marange said.”
Teams:
Mauritius: Kevin Jean-Louis, Jean Francois, Dylan Collard, Lyndsay Rose, Jean Langue, Stephan De, Jean Aristide, Gabriel Caliste (Joseph Francois 79 min), Wilson Mootoo, Adrien Botlar (Angel Arthee 79 min), Cooper Legrand
Zimbabwe: Martin Mapisa, Arter Kaseke, Simbarashe Takaedza (Calvin Chigara 90min), Prosper Padera, Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya, Kennedy Mupomba (Mafios Chihweta 65 min), Allan Chapanduka, Nisbert Muzenda (Prince Ndhlovu 82nd min), min),Andrew Mbeba, Junior Makunike (Denzel Mapuwa 82nd min)
