Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
JORDAN Zemura may not be in Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations, but his bond with the Warriors remains unbroken.
The Udinese defender was sidelined by injury while on duty in the Italian Serie A, a setback that ruled him out of the continental showpiece and robbed him of what would have been a second Afcon appearance.
The disappointment cuts deep for a player whose first taste of the tournament in 2021, played a year later in Cameroon, never quite unfolded the way he had imagined.
Zemura missed Zimbabwe’s opening match, a 1-0 defeat to Senegal in Bafoussam, after Covid-19 complications delayed his involvement.
He only linked up with the squad two days before their second group game against Malawi, even enduring a five-hour road trip from Yaounde to West Cameroon, where Zimbabwe were based.
But his late arrival came at a cost. Coach Norman Mapeza handed him limited roles, and his influence never truly surfaced as the Warriors slumped to a 2-1 loss to Malawi, a defeat that sealed an early exit and turned the final group match against Guinea into a dead rubber.
Contracted to Bournemouth in the English Championship at the time, Zemura would finally get his moment in that last game, producing a bright display as Zimbabwe beat Guinea 2-1. By then, the damage had already been done.
Now a regular under a succession of coaches, including Baltemar Britto, Jairos Tapera and Michael Nees, Zemura had hoped this Afcon campaign would be the one where Zimbabwe finally shattered the group stage barrier.
The Warriors have never progressed beyond the first round in five appearances since qualifying for the tournament for the first time in 2004.
Even so, the pain of missing out has not dulled Zemura’s belief.
“I am just wishing our Warriors all the best in Morocco. I am very confident that the boys will hoist our flag high at the Afcon,” said Zemura.
“The squad is quite detailed and balanced as I see it. I am sure they will punch very well at the Afcon. I have played with almost everyone at the fiesta right now and I know their capabilities. I am sure the boys will do well.”
Zimbabwe begin their Group B campaign tonight with a daunting opener against former champions Egypt, a 10pm kick off.
They then face Angola on Boxing Day before closing their group programme against South Africa on December 29.
With a new coach and a fresh philosophy, optimism is higher than usual that Marian “Mario” Marinica can steer the Warriors into the knockout rounds.
Marinica guided Malawi to the Round of 16 in 2022, an achievement that earned him widespread respect given the Flames’ standing at the time. No Zimbabwe coach has managed to reach that stage in five previous Afcon attempts, a fact that has only heightened expectations around his appointment.
Zemura believes the pieces are finally in place.
“I think we have all the ingredients in place to organise a decent meal as a team.
“I do believe that the squad has everything in place. We have the experience and the determination right in the same room. I know we can combine this and have a formidable show starting with the match against Egypt.”
Zemura is not the only notable absentee, with Wolves midfielder Marshal Munetsi also ruled out through injury in the build-up to the squad announcement.
But while Munetsi’s reaction has been confrontational, Zemura has chosen a different path, backing those selected and showing the maturity of a player who understands that the national cause must always come before personal disappointment.
