Warriors IN Reality check

Zimpapers Sports Hub

Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

Burkina Faso . . . .  . . . . . . . . . (2) 2

THE Warriors were given a tough reality check on their bid to experiment with their side with Burkina Faso outshining them in an international friendly match at the Stade El Bachir de Mohammedia in Casablanca, Morocco yesterday.

At the conclusion of the encounter, Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees should have picked some priceless lessons after goals from Kistephane Aziz and 19-year-old Cyriaque Bi Irié Kalou condemned his team to a defeat in the first of the two international friendly matches which the Warriors will play in the North African country.

Zimbabwe are using the tour of Morocco to try new players and combinations as part of the preparations for the 2025 AFCON finals to be held in Morocco later this year.

As he had indicated before the match, Warriors coach Nees predictably started with a slightly different looking side with Highlanders midfielder Mason Mushore getting his first national team start, while Sheffield Wednesday rising star Sean Fusire made a second half bow.

Tino Kadewere and Bill Antonio, who are returning to the national team fold after missing previous engagements due to injuries, were given starting places along with regulars Khama Billiat, Tawanda Maswanhise, Teenage Hadebe and Gerald Takwara with Washington Arubi guarding the goal.

But the Stallions dominated the proceedings for most of the match and they underlined their superiority with two goals scored in the opening 30 minutes.

The West Africans poked holes in the Zimbabwe side and exposed weaknesses in midfield and defence, which the coach would need to address.

Zimbabwe were missing a number of key players that were rested to give the Warriors returnees and other peripheral players a chance to impress.

The Warriors’ major weakness last night was the midfield, which looked virtually non-existent, as the Stallions, who featured most of their foreign-based players, literally galloped past without so much challenge.

The handicap created an overload for the Warriors’ defence, who also appeared unprepared for the Stallions’ high press.

Yet the West Africans looked dangerous every time they made forays forward especially in the first half.

They enjoyed most of the 50-50 challenges, thanks to their towering physique.

Zimbabwe were bullied off the ball easily and had to do with their pace on the wings where Maswanhise and Bill Antonio looked to make the most of their opportunities.

But Zimbabwe conceded after 21 minutes when Kistephane Aziz Ki beat goalkeeper Washington Arubi with a wide shot to the bottom corner.

The Wydad Athletic Club forward was unmarked on the edge of the box when teammate Cyriaque Bi Irié Kalou worked his way out on the byline and released a drawback pass that caught the Zimbabwean defence off guard.

Zimbabwe suffered a further setback just before the half hour mark when 19-year-old, Irie who was given the space to make a cheeky turn, advanced into the box and made no mistake with his right foot.

The Warriors had lost possession after Khama Billiat was pushed off the ball and the referee waved play on as the West Africans launched a swift advance to Zimbabwe’s half.

Irie, who recently moved to French Ligue 2 side Freiburg, took the opportunity with glee and unleashed a grounder that gave Arubi no chance.

Nees made a cocktail of changes soon after the hour mark, fulfilling his promise to give as many players a chance to play, by throwing into the fray Daniel Msendami, Tawanda Macheke, Sean Fusire and Terrence Dzvukamanja.

Simba Bhora midfielder Donald Mudadi also played a cameo later on.

The Warriors will play their next international friendly game against Niger next Tuesday.

They are using the June FIFA international friendly window to prepare for the 2025 AFCON finals, since the World Cup campaign has spun out of their control.

The Stallions, who lost 0-2 to Tunisia in another friendly match on Monday, are preparing for CHAN, World Cup qualifiers, as well as the December AFCON finals.

Teams:

Zimbabwe: Washington Arubi, Emmanuel Jalai, Godknows Murwira, Teenage Hadebe, Peter Muduhwa, Gerald Takwara, Mason Musore (Daniel Msendami, 62nd min), Khama Billiat (Sean Fusire, 62nd min), Bill Antonio (Terrance Dzvukamanja, 75th min), Tino Kadewere, Tawanda Maswanhise (Tawanda Macheke, 62nd min).

Burkina Faso: Herve Kouakou Koffi, Issa Kabore, Edmound Tapsoba, Issoufou Dayo, Abdoula Ayinde, Saidou Simpore, Cedric Badolo, Kistephane Aziz Ki, Bertrand Traore, Cyriaque Bi Irié Kalou, Pierre Landry Kabore.