The Warriors of Zimbabwe are heading back to the African Nations Cup finals following an 11-year wait during which the country’s image in football has been dragged through the mud and left severely bruised.
Much-publicised struggles with match-fixing has hit the country, which is reeling from the bite of an economic downturn.
However, qualification for the next continental championship will provide a refreshing feel for a nation whose qualifying campaign started in chaos with players having to contend with an overnight bus trip to Malawi for the opening group match.
Though only making their third appearance at the tournament, and despite a tough group that contains heavyweights Senegal, Algeria and Tunisia, there is some optimism: should the country’s best players be available for selection, The Warriors could eclipse their two previous showings that both ended in first round exits in 2004 and 2006, when the side finished bottom of their pools.
Zimbabwe feel they can upset the apple cart with Kaizer Chiefs’ Willard Katsande leading the charge.
“Obviously there will be pressure, but at the same time I’m happy with the pressure because it will be a great experience for us,” he says.
“I believe we have a solid team and all we need to do is perform when it comes to the matchday. We appeal to everyone in the Cosafa region to keep supporting us.
“At the same time they really need to believe and have confidence in us so that we can deliver on our goal to get past the group stages. In the knockout stages, anything can happen. But we know that we are going there carrying an underdog tag, so we just need to perform to the best of our ability without fear of being intimidated.”
The Warriors have previously played Algeria at the Nations Cup finals – winning 2-1 back in 2004 – but succumbed to Senegal two years later.
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