Story by Raynald Ngwarati
The Zimbabwe national men’s football team, the Warriors, have sent fans into ecstasy after sealing a qualification ticket to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted in Morocco next year.
The qualification has reignited the passion for the game in the country, with fans hoping for a better showing when the Warriors play in Africa’s most prestigious football tournament for the sixth time in history.
While the local fans have been starved of international football due to the unavailability of CAF approved stadia in the country, they have been charmed with the tactical discipline of the Warriors.
In only his fifth match in charge of the Warriors, Michael Nees has impressed the fans with his exploits taking the Warriors to the ‘promised land’, with a match to go and unbeaten in those five matches.
Speaking to ZBC News, Warriors fans in Harare expressed delight in the qualification, but were quick to appeal to the corporate world to invest in football for the sport to reach desired heights.
“We are happy with the new coach and what he has done thus far for Zim football. We however call for funding so that the sport can thrive and even scale to better heights,” said a fan.
We love football but unfortunately we cant afford flights to go watch the national team play. We call on the government and other relevant authorities to urgently look into the matter so that local stadiums can be used, said another.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are on their way to Yaoundé, Cameroon ahead of their final Group J Qualifier against Cameroon on Tuesday, with only Marshall Munetsi and Gerald Takwara not travelling with the squad.
