Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Warriors captain Marvelous Nakamba has said he feels himself “slowly sliding into depression” after giving away a penalty in Zimbabwe’s 3-2 defeat to South Africa at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Morocco.
Zimbabwe needed a win to finish second in Group B and secure a historic place in the Round of 16. Even a draw might have been enough, depending on how other results played out.
With just ten minutes remaining and the game tied at 2-2, the Warriors were pressing for a winner when Nakamba handled Mohau Nkota’s strike in the penalty area, deflecting it around the post with his left hand.
Referee Mustapha Kechkaf initially awarded a corner, but VAR intervention saw the decision changed to a penalty, which Oswin Appollis converted.
Zimbabwean fans vented their frustration on social media, targeting Nakamba as well as goalkeeper Washington Arubi and left-back Devine Lunga, who were blamed for the second goal conceded shortly after the restart.
Speaking after the match at the Sofitel Hotel, Nakamba, who barely touched his food at supper, said he was heartbroken and struggling to come to terms with the moment. He said:
“I am heartbroken. If there are people that I never want to let down, then it should be Zimbabweans.
“Even when I play club football, I play there to make Zimbabweans proud. And these are the same people that I have disappointed today.
“I am really sorry. I don’t know how to express this, but I am slowly sliding into depression with what I have just caused.”
Nakamba said he acted on instinct, believing he was the last line of defence and that the ball was about to go in. He said:
“I am never going to try to defend myself here. That will be abominable on my part.
“If you look at that phase of play, I was standing right in the middle part of our goal, just in front of goalkeeper Arubi.
“Just as the ball came, I drifted to the left, and I never quite realised that the ball was going wide.
“The first conviction was that I was the last man. The second was that the ball was going in. I then went down, desperate to head the ball away.
“But the ball had a lot of pace, and as I went down, I also inadvertently handled it before heading it out.
“Washy was behind me. Just after the incident, he calmly said, ‘Marve, you handled the ball. We are in a tight spot now.”
When reminded of the chances Zimbabwe had missed, including Macaulay Bonne’s one-on-one and Tawanda Maswanhise striking the upright, Nakamba simply shook his head. He said:
“All that doesn’t really matter in this situation. I should have done better in dealing with my situation.
“I have let everyone down. My country, my people and my family. I am really sorry to all of you.”
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