Vusumuzi Dube
Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE can put themselves in a good space in their bid to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by beating Namibia for the second time inside four days at Orlando Stadium in South Africa tomorrow.
The Warriors leapt to second place in Group J of the Afcon qualification after coming out 1-0 to the good in the first of their back-to-back clashes with the Brave Warriors at the same venue last Thursday.
With five points in three matches, Zimbabwe are just two points behind leaders Cameroon who walloped Kenya 4-1 on Friday.
Kenya are third with four points to their name while Namibia have no points after three match-days.
Kenya will host Cameroon at the Mandela National Stadium in Uganda tomorrow afternoon before the Warriors play host to Namibia at 6pm.
And Zimbabwe will move closer to making the trip to the 2025 Afcon finals in Morocco next year if they manage to secure another set of maximum points against Namibia while Cameroon beat Kenya.
That will mean Michael Nees’ side will just need a draw against Kenya at home next month to punch their ticket as one of the top-two qualifying teams from the pool. But that is easier said than done.
Nees knows the second leg against Namibia will be a tough one given the Brave Warriors also need the points to get their campaign back on track.
They actually gave Zimbabwe a huge scare with Nees admitting they won last Thursday’s encounter because they had good luck at the right time against a team that has stayed together for a long time.
“We had one training session before the match against Namibia. We didn’t have time to practice set-pieces. The rest of the time, I had to assemble the squad with them coming from all over the world and this is a catastrophe. “I was more like a meeting coach than a football coach. But we played a team that played together in January, February in a tournament. “But we had luck at the right time and not bad luck at the wrong time. “We need support (on Monday). We want spectators even if they are for us or against us. Otherwise, football will be boring,” said Nees.
“We need to take recovery sessions for those who played. We only have four days between the games. We have special training programmes. The calendar is so packed and for us.”
The German gaffer said the Warriors need to keep control of their qualification by getting positive results against Namibia.
“Our target is to have our destiny (on qualification) in our own hands. I think that is our target. That is our objective. Even if we win three points again (tomorrow), the group is not decided.
“We are working day by day and then in November, the decision comes, on which team qualifies or not,” added Nees.
Zimbabwe will be looking forward to massive support from thousands living in Johannesburg tomorrow, especially after playing before empty stands last Thursday after the home side Namibia decided to shut out fans.
Online Reporter