Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THE long, dark cloud of a year-long winless streak has finally lifted over the Zimbabwe Warriors.
It comes at the back of a massive 2-1 international friendly win against 52nd-ranked Qatar in Doha on Monday night.
And leading the celebratory chorus, radiating confidence and renewed purpose, is the team’s midfield general, captain Marvelous Nakamba.
In a social media post that instantly echoed across the nation, Nakamba declared the stunning victory as a vital injection of momentum ahead of the Afcon finals.
“The victory against Qatar brings confidence and renewed zeal within the squad, especially with just a few weeks left before the prestigious Afcon tournament,” he wrote on his Instagram account.
The triumphant Warriors squad, fresh from their morale-boosting success, arrived back home yesterday evening.
For the newly appointed Romanian tactician, Marian Marinica, the return was doubly significant — it marked the first time he had stepped onto Zimbabwean soil since his appointment.
Having already secured his first win against a highly-ranked opponent, Marinica arrives not as an untested quantity but already a hero in the eyes of the hopeful Zimbabwean public.
The victory, secured by goals from Munashe Garan’anga and Bill Antonio, delivered a much-needed first triumph for Marinica and put a stop to a morale-sapping run of poor form.
The captain’s public expression of zeal is a clear sign that the new dawn under the coach has begun.
Nakamba, who had surprisingly been overlooked for the preceding friendly against Algeria, returned to the starting lineup with a purpose.
The win, coming after the Warriors had to fight back from Mohamed Khaled Gouda’s 9th-minute opener, speaks volumes about the renewed resilience in the camp.
Beyond the tactical triumph, Nakamba focused on the emotional connection with the Zimbabwean faithful. “As players, we always play with our hearts out,” he affirmed, issuing a passionate call for national unity. “I believe with your support, and if we all pull in one direction, we will get it right.” He then stressed the need for national backing, adding: “This is the moment we need your support the most.”
Nakamba didn’t forget the diaspora, thanking the horses who backed the team to victory in Doha.
“A big thank you to Zimbabweans who were rallying behind us back from home, all over the world, and those in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, who came out in numbers to support us during the international friendly matches. Without you, we feel incomplete,” Nakamba said.
The long wait for a victory is over. The path to Afcon is now brightly lit with confidence and renewed zeal, cemented by the team’s Monday victory.
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