Antony Chawagarira
HARARE— Defeats are tough, but they are also the foundation of future victories, said President Emmerson Mnangagwa after Zimbabwe’s Warriors suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Sports Stadium on Monday evening.
The President, who attended the match and cheered the Warriors from the stands, expressed confidence in the national team despite the setback. He praised the players for what he described as a spirited performance against a formidable DR Congo side.
“While the final score did not go our way against the Democratic Republic of Congo, our players gave everything on the pitch and treated us to a genuinely magnificent game of football. They showed exceptional character, skill, and resilience against formidable opponents, proving that our football is moving in the right direction,” said President Mnangagwa.
“Defeats are tough, but they are also the foundation of future victories. We stand firmly behind the team and the technical staff as they regroup for the remainder of the AFCON qualification campaign.”
The defeat ended new coach Ramón Catalá’s winning start after the Spaniard guided Zimbabwe to a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Sierra Leone in his opening match last Thursday.
DR Congo, however, made their experience count, scoring twice in the first half to take firm control of the Group E encounter.
Yoane Wissa opened the scoring in the 30th minute after Warriors’ goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze failed to gather a cross, allowing the forward to turn the loose ball into the net.
Wissa then turned provider when he released Samuel Moutoussamy through on goal. The midfielder made no mistake, doubling the visitors’ advantage.
Zimbabwe fought back after the break and continued to push for a way back into the contest, with Marshall Munetsi once again proving to be important in front of goal.
Munetsi, who had scored twice against Sierra Leone, pulled one back for the Warriors in added time by turning the ball home at the back post from a corner.
The late goal raised hopes of another comeback, but Zimbabwe could not find an equaliser, as DR Congo held on to claim their second consecutive victory in the qualifiers.
In the other Group E encounter, Equatorial Guinea edged Sierra Leone 1-0 in Yaoundé, with Spanish-born forward Loren Zuniga scoring inside the opening minute.
DR Congo now lead Group E with six points from two matches, while Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea have three points apiece. Sierra Leone have yet to register a point.
Zimbabwe will face Equatorial Guinea in back-to-back matches in the next round of fixtures, with the Warriors needing to regroup as their campaign to qualify for the 2027 AFCON finals continues.
President Mnangagwa thanked the thousands of supporters who packed the National Sports Stadium, saying their backing demonstrated the continued passion for the national team.
“We stand firmly behind the team and the technical staff as they regroup for the rest of the AFCON qualification campaign,” he said.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17 next year.
