Chronicle Editor
Eddie Chikamhi, Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE’S stand-in captain Dennis Dauda said the Warriors let the country and their fans down after they crashed out of the Africa Nations Championship at the qualifying stage on Sunday.
Dauda, who was handed the captain’s armband following the injury to Ocean Mushure, said the team has taken responsibility for the humiliation after they fell 4-5 on penalties to Namibia at the National Sports Stadium.
Zimbabwe won the match 1-0 but the slender victory was not enough to take Zimbabwe through to the third and final round of the qualifiers as they had lost the reverse leg by a similar margin in Windhoek.
The Warriors have been to every edition of the tournament since 2009 when the first event was held in Cote d’Ivoire.
Dauda said it was very disappointing that they had wasted an opportunity to take Zimbabwe to a fifth straight appearance at the stage following their poor and disjointed performance on Sunday.
“It’s very bad because this is the first team that has failed to qualify for Chan. So we are very saddened that we have disappointed Zimbabwe,” said Dauda.
The Warriors enjoyed generous support from a considerable home crowd that also included the players and officials of the rugby and cricket national teams.
But they struggled from the first whistle to take control of the match and had the determined Namibians coming at them from all angles.
Sunday Chidzambwa’s men could not carve meaningful moves with striker Prince Dube starved of clean supply of balls upfront.
However, the Highlanders man somehow managed to give Zimbabwe hope just before the interval when he won a tussle for possession in the box and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Lloydt Kazapua.
“But I don’t think we were that bad. Of course, we take the blame but our supporters also did not play their part well when our ‘keeper was preparing to take that spot kick.
“They started booing him but he is our player. I think it took away his confidence and he failed to convert as a result. I urge our supporters to keep supporting the team in future endeavours,” said Dauda.
Chidzambwa said the Warriors, who had many changes between the two legs, were not adequately prepared for the big match.
Online Reporter