LOCAL football legend, Moses “Bambo” Chunga (pictured) has said Zimbabweans should not be fazed by the big names drawn against the Warriors in Group B of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals, saying the Warriors can match anyone at the tournament.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
In the draw, conducted in Libreville, Gabon, on Wednesday night, Zimbabwe were placed in the same group as former African champions Algeria and Tunisia and Senegal, which appears the toughest of all the groups.
But the former Warriors midfielder, now coach of Harare City, was quick to point out that to be drawn in that group, where all the teams finished as group winners in the qualification campaign, was an indication that Zimbabwe had matured and deserved to be with the big boys of African football.
Chunga said there was, therefore, nothing to fear, but to prepare well and take the heavyweights head-on.
“All the teams in that group qualified for this tournament as group winners. Zimbabwe are one of them and our qualification was not a fluke, so there is nothing to be afraid of,” he said yesterday.
“We are at the same level with all those teams. We should actually go there with our confidence high.”
ZPC Kariba coach and former Warriors gaffer, Sunday Chidzambwa said Zimbabwe should not fret over the draw. “It appears a difficult draw on paper, but it’s fair. There is no longer a small team these days,” he said.
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While there is concern about how the Warriors will stop one of the game’s top marksmen, Senegalese international, Sadio Mane, who plays for Liverpool, Zimbabwe will take comfort in that they have a better head-to-head record against the Lions of Teranga having met seven times, winning four games and losing three.
As for Algeria, who have Leicester midfielder Riyad Mahrez in their ranks, they have met on five occasions, with the Warriors winning once, losing twice, with the remaining two matches ending in draws.
The Warriors have not played Tunisia much, with the two matches the two sides clashed in both ending in one-all draws.
Zimbabwe, who will be making their third appearance at the continental showpiece, will get the ball rolling against Algeria on January 15 at the Stade de Franceville before taking on Senegal at the same venue four days later. They will conclude the group stages with a match against Tunisia at the Stade L’Ammitse on January 23.
Zimbabwe have never progressed beyond the group stages since 2004, when they qualified for the continental soccer showcase for the first time.
Head-to-head v Algeria
Algeria 3-0 Zimbabwe Zimbabwe 1-2 Algeria Algeria 1-2 Zimbabwe Zimbabwe 1-1 Algeria Algeria 2-2 Zimbabwe
Head-to-head v Senegal
Zimbabwe 1-0 Senegal Senegal 3-0 Zimbabwe Zimbabwe 2-0 Senegal Zimbabwe 2-0 Senegal Zimbabwe 2-1 Senegal Senegal 2-0 Zimbabwe Zimbabwe 0-2 Senegal
Head-to-head v Tunisia
Tunisia 1-1 Zimbabwe Tunisia 1-1 Zimbabwe
