Mapeza draws positives in Warriors’ losses

By Geroniimo News

Zimbabwe coach Norman Mapeza says he has drawn a lot of positives from the previous two games at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) fiesta in Cameroon despite the Warriors losing both.

Speaking on the back of the Warriors’ dismal performance which has relatively left the team out of the competition as they anchor Group B with no points following successive defeats from Senegal and Malawi respectively, Mapeza believes his charges have learnt a lot of lessons which he will use to perfect his side.

“Conceding before half-time was an issue of game management, in the second half we gave away a soft goal, we tried all we could to equalise. With a bit of luck, we could have come out with something. So many positives despite us losing the first two matches,” said the Zimbabwe coach after the 1-2 loss to Malawi in their second game on Friday.

Now with Zimbabwe set to lock horns with Guinea in their final group game at Yaoundé’s Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo on Tuesday, the Warriors will be hoping to redeem some lost pride by at least winning this game and console themselves from the first two losses.

Given the unity in camp and the morale, so much was expected from this crop of Warriors with the fans hoping that this time around the team would surpass their previous performances and go past the group stage but alas it all ended in tears.

With the current crop of Warriors, dubbed by some as the ‘Golden Generation’, what is more worrying is that this team has played 21 games since 2020 but won only once against Botswana, with their failure continuing to be justified through a catalogue of excuses.

And that 1-0 win over the Zebras in an AFCON qualifier match at the Francistown Stadium on 25 March last year remains the only victory for the Warriors in four different competitions in the last two years.

Meanwhile, Ishmael Wadi and Alec Mudimu did not take part in the Warriors training session on Sunday owing to an ankle injury and illness respectively.