Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S national football team, the Warriors, were eliminated from the 2025 Cosafa Cup at the group stage, but their youthful squad showed encouraging signs for the future, securing four points from three matches.
Composed largely of Under-20 players, the team finished second in Group A, behind hosts South Africa. Their campaign included a goalless draw with Mauritius, a 2-0 defeat to South Africa, and a 3-1 victory over Mozambique in their final match. Despite the win, an inferior goal difference prevented them from reaching the semi-finals.
The decisive match against Mozambique saw Thando Ngwenya score a brace (26th and 33rd minutes, including a penalty), with Junior Makunike adding a third in stoppage time. Mozambique’s Leonel Calsao netted a consolation goal. This marked Zimbabwe’s first goals of the tournament and provided a positive end to their campaign.
Football analyst Praise Dumie Dhlakama praised the decision to field such a young side, highlighting the potential for future development.
“The positive aspect is that it was a young squad comprising mostly Under-20 players. If we are to stand a chance of qualifying for the Los Angeles Olympics, these players need to be given consistent exposure,” he said.
Dhlakama particularly highlighted the promising progress of players such as Prince Ndlovu and Prosper Padera, both of whom had previously impressed at the Marvelous Nakamba football tournament.
“I’m sure that by the time we reach the qualifiers, they and other Under-20 players will be established figures within the national setup. Undoubtedly, it was a valuable experience for them. What’s needed now is continuity. All too often, we’ve seen players who represented the country at junior level fade into obscurity due to changes in technical staff,” said Dhlakama.
Football analyst Buhle Ncube argued that relying on senior players for Cosafa tournaments can create long-term issues for national team development.
“I saw some positives in sending mostly Under-20s, even though they couldn’t advance to the semi-finals. They played well and finished strong, giving those youngsters a valuable platform to gain experience.
“We’re often accustomed to seeing senior players represent us in Cosafa, but this approach can lead to continuity issues when seniors retire. By giving young players opportunities, we can develop a stronger future for our team. They made a few mistakes, but that’s all part of the learning process, we learn as we grow,” Ncube said.
In parallel to the Cosafa Cup campaign, another senior Zimbabwe squad, under head coach Michael Nees, was in Morocco playing friendlies against Burkina Faso and Niger. This team is preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations in December and upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Meanwhile, the young Cosafa Cup squad is being seen as a foundation for the 2028 Olympic qualifiers, which are due to start next year.
