By Anesu Chakanetsa
AFRICA’s biggest soccer tournament, AFCON, continues, minus the Zimbabwean ship which is sailing back home after a lukewarm performance.
Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes!
Exactly in January 2017, this writer, in this publication, wrote about the mistakes the Warriors made in the Gabon 2017 AFCON.
And it seems the Warriors are repeating the same mistakes.
Surely, some people, especially in the technical team, have to read newspapers.
If there was no Chris Mutseyekwa, Charles Mabika, Robson Sharuko, Munyaradzi Madzokere, Alvin Madzivanzira and Eddie Chikamhi, among others, football would not be what it is today.
The Fourth Estate has been, and still is, playing its role of pointing out what should, and should not, be.
Football pundits Mike Madhodha and Barry Manandi, as early as 2016, tried to convince the world that Petros Mhari must find a place between the sticks for the Warriors.
The team had relentless goalkeeping problems, such that in 2019, three goalkeepers were enlisted each for the three group matches.
At least this time, there were no goalkeeping issues.
Defensive mistakes sunk the Warriors titanic ship in 2017, Egypt in 2019 and this time around in Cameroon.
Following a narrow controversial win by Senegal against Norman Mapeza’s charges, the masses were impreesed with the Warriors’ display.
Even the naysayers had to shut their mouths and change the venom of their words, unfaithful words always meant to denigrate the Warriors.
It appeared the Warriors were going to have a honeymoon in Cameroon.
Millions of Zimbabweans followed matches on different media platforms.
Malawi, which last beat Zimbabwe some 15 years ago, were not even pleasing in their performance.
Their only two shots on target in the game resulted in their two goals.
What a come back it was!
Malawi went on to hold Senegal in their last group game.
Both goals against the Warriors came from silly mistakes – first, a stray pass by Knowledge Musona, and then a communication mishap between Teenage Hadebe and Kelvin Madzongwe, leading to Gabadinho Mhango’s brace.
It seems Zimbabwe does not learn from past mistakes.
The greatest disappointment was that the Warriors were in the fairest group and carried a high chance of qualifying to the next round as the new third best team being chosen rule came into place.
And the other is that Zimbabwe ranks low on group standings but has more goals than any other team in the group.
While the match against Malawi came as a thorn in the flesh for Zimbabwe, a consolation win against Guinea really exposed coach Norman Mapeza’s choice of players.
Or was it too much pressure or complacency that led to shortfalls in the match against Malawi?
No doubt Mapeza is the nation’s best coach, but Kuda Mahachi is the fans’ favourite.
Fans felt Mahachi should have played a role in the first matches against Senegal and Malawi respectively.
But is Mahachi cursed?
He was used in the last match against Guinea and not only did he make Guinea players restless for 90 minutes, but scored a bolt of a shot.
Musona had scored a perfect header from a Godknows Murwira cross.
Mahachi suffered the same fate in 2019.
He did not get enough game-time in Egypt and fans blasted Sunday Chidzambwa for such a mistake.
The same happened with Mapeza.
Besides Mahachi, other replacements were also good.
Peter Muduwa started as a centre back and Murwira as a right back.
The duo was solid.
Admiral Muskwe started as a centre forward and kept Guinea defenders busy.
Jordan Zemura started as a fullback and lived to expectations, winning a lot of set-pieces.
Most of these players have not yet reached their prime and promise a great future for Zimbabwean football.
And Mapeza should at least continue with this crop and build a powerful team for the future, provided Zimbabwe is not not suspended from international football.
In other AFCON issues
On a sad note, Ivory Coast goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare lost his father, just a day after his blunder cost his country against Sierra Leone at the 2021 AFCON.
The 35-year-old was culpable for the Leone Stars’ last-minute equaliser, which was scored by Alhaji Kamara.
Sebastien Haller put the Elephants in front in the first half but Sierra Leone restored parity early in the second half through Musa Noah Kamara.
Ghana also had their nightmarish AFCON tourney as they bowed down to the Comoros Islands in their last minute thriller.
And, as mentioned earlier, the tournament’s favourites are having the dullest of moments.
Senegal qualified for the next round of tournament with a single goal which came from a dubious penalty against Zimbabwe.
And this AFCON tourney will be remembered for a referee from Zambia, Janny Sikazwe, who blew to end the match in the 85th minute in a match pitting Mali and Tunisia.
More drama is expected as the tourney progresses.