THE road to East Africa has been officially mapped out, and it has sparked an intense debate among Zimbabwean football faithful.
The Warriors were drawn into a deceptively challenging Group E for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers yesterday, where they will square off against a formidable Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) side, alongside Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone.
With the finals co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, the Warriors are aiming for an overall seventh Afcon qualification. However, the current landscape is shrouded in both optimism and anxiety.
The Warriors enter this campaign in a state of transition under the tutelage of caretaker coach Kaitano Tembo, following the abrupt resignation of Romanian tactician Marian Marinica under unclear circumstances last month.
On paper, the group is challenging. DRC are the clear favourites, ranked 9th in Africa and 46th in the world. Equatorial Guinea are ranked 105th, Sierra Leone 119th, while Zimbabwe sit lowest at 130th globally.
The draw has divided opinion among fans, particularly on the Zifa official Facebook page.
Keep Reading
- SRC endorses Banda appointment as Zifa interim president
- Warriors’ loss, Bafana’s gain
- SRC takes Warriors out of Afcon 2023
- Looming drought a threat to national herd: Senate
For some supporters, the draw is a golden opportunity to return to Africa's premier football tournament.
“Not a tough group,” argued a fan using the moniker Olympique Entertainment.
“Equatorial Guinea has not been in the best shape recently, and Sierra Leone is not a tough side at all. We can get a result against DR Congo at home. We have a better chance of qualifying from this group even as runner-up.”
However, others are refusing to underestimate the opposition, urging caution.
“This group is not good for us; this time it’s gonna be difficult,” warned Phati Ncube.
The administrative preparedness of Zifa also came under fire, with fans demanding a permanent, high-profile technical setup. User Chale Chihwa noted, “The only reason why we can fail in this group will be Zifa after failing to appoint a good coach like Tom Saintfiet.”
Beyond the tactical board, the loudest and most unifying outcry from the fans centres around a critical logistical nightmare: the lack of a Caf-accredited stadium in Zimbabwe.
The National Sports Stadium was barred from hosting international matches in 2020, and despite repeated promises, the government has failed to upgrade the facility to meet international standards. The government said on Monday that the stadium would reopen for domestic and international matches after undergoing renovations.
While the previous Afcon qualification was miraculously achieved with the team playing its “home” matches on alternative grounds outside the country, fans are adamant that history cannot repeat itself.
“Pakuda kutambira kumba apa, we need home advantage. At home, we can beat all these teams, away tozoshanda madraw (We need to play at home; we can beat these teams at home and work for draws away),” insisted Tatenda Mazhindu.
Peter Tpoz Mlambo Machizi echoed the sentiment, writing, “Any team can surprise, we just need to win all home games and draw at least two away.”
Meanwhile, Issau Neshiri and Rahman Mupasiri pleaded directly with authorities, demanding that matches return to the capital.
“Let‘s play our home games at the National Sports Stadium at least,” Mupasiri implored.
Before the qualifiers kick off, caretaker coach Tembo will get a golden opportunity to test his squad's mettle. The Warriors are scheduled to fly to London this week for the Unity Cup, a four-nation tournament featuring Jamaica, India, and African giants Nigeria.
The Warriors will kick off their campaign against Nigeria on May 27. It will be the ultimate litmus test for a side desperately looking to find its identity, fix its stadium crisis, and book a ticket to East Africa.