ZIFA apologises for Warriors World Cup elimination

The Zimbabwe Football Association has apologised for the Warriors elimination from the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Warriors recently lost back-to-back matches against Ghana this week and that marked the end of the road for the team in as far as qualifying for the global showpiece is concerned.

Zimbabwe had previously drawn 0-0 against South Africa in their first match at the National Sports Stadium of September before losing 1-0 to Ethiopia at the Bahir Dar International Stadium four days later which resulted in the sacking of Croat coach Zdravko Logarusic who was replaced by Norman Mapeza.

In a statement, ZIFA appealed to all football stakeholders to bear with them as they have drawn lessons from the previous two games while focus shifts to the Cameroon 2021 Africa Cup of Nations preparations.   

“ZIFA as the institution responsible for football in Zimbabwe therefore takes full responsibility for the Warriors’ failure to qualify for the World Cup irrespective of several impediments that complicated the journey. In that regard, the association encourages all stakeholders to support the players and desist from insulting the players, secretariat and the technical team who all gave it their all albeit on a losing cause,” read part of the statement.

Zimbabwe will now use the two remaining dead rubber World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia and South Africa as part of preparations for the AFCON tournament to be hosted by Cameroon in January.