Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo in POLOKWANE
Zimbabwe are looking to secure qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations when they play against Kenya at the Peter Mokaba Stadium this evening.
The match kicks-off at 6pm.
The Warriors need just a draw in that game to stamp their ticket to the Afcon finals to be held in Morocco late next year.
It’s a delicate fixture that the Warriors need to get a positive outcome from as a defeat will leave them having to win against Cameroon in Yaounde on Tuesday next week.
Zimbabwe and Kenya have met 13 times since 1982 and the former have bettered the Warriors winning six games to Zimbabwe’s one.
The other six games ended in draws.
Zemura wants perfect birthday present
Warriors left-back Jordan Zemura expects Zimbabwe to seal Afcon qualification in their penultimate Group J match against Kenya at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa this evening.
The Udinese star is in a celebratory mood after clocking 25 years yesterday.
He is looking forward to getting a huge present with a positive result against the Harambee Stars.
Warriors fans from Zimbabwe have started arriving in buses from across the border with different ZIFA presidential aspirants responsible for the logistics.
More fans arrive for Warriors game
Hundreds of supporters have arrived in Polokwane from Zimbabwe for the Warriors’ crucial 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya at the Peter Mokaba Stadium at 6pm.
Zimbabwe need a draw against the Harambee Stars to secure their ticket to the biennial tournament to be held in Morocco next year.
The match has built so much excitement, with fans traveling for the fixture in their numbers courtesy of some ZIFA presidential aspirants.
Oh, it’s Mupfurutsa again?
As we stand on the cusp of our sixth Africa Cup of Nations qualification, head of delegation for this fixture Isaiah Mupfurutsa was holding the same position when we clipped our fifth berth away in Botswana in 2021.
Then the executive chairman for Dynamos, Mupfurutsa took the Warriors to Francistown tight at the height of Covid-19 to play the Zebras in a penultimate qualifier at the Obedi Itani Chilume Stadium.
The Warriors needed a win to secure their passage to the biennial tournament.
Croat coach Zdravko Logarusic was in charge of the squad that travelled thin to Botswana, thanks to the pandemic which limited international movement for European based players like Mervelous Nakamba, Jordan Zemura and Marshal Munetsi.
Debutant Perfect Chikwende scrambled an early goal which ultimately won the match to help the Warriors seal qualification and render their last encounter against Zambia dead-rubber.
Mupfurutsa is now at Simba Bhora and has been given the task in a penultimate match, away from home (although Zimbabwe are technically the home team), again.
The Warriors need a draw against Kenya to punch their ticket to Morocco and render their tie against Cameroon a dead-runner as well.
Will Mupfurutsa see us through for the second time of asking in an almost similar situation?
Let’s see at 6pm.
Chigova’s widow, kids for Warriors game
Zimpapers Sports Hub
The widow of the late Warriors goalkeeper, George Chigova, Noku Chigova, and her children are set to attend today’s crucial 2025 AFCON qualifier against Kenya at the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane.
Zimbabwe needs at least a draw at their adopted home to qualify for next year’s tournament.
Today marks a year since Chigova’s death and the widow has decided to go and rally behind the team as they seek to secure their group’s remaining ticket.
She believes taking the kids to support the Warriors is a way of honouring the long-serving national team goalie.
Maswanhise starts against Kenya
Tawanda Maswanhise will start his first game for the Warriors against Kenya at 6pm.
Zimbabwe need a draw to secure qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in this match.
Coach Michael Nees has decided to go for speed in the flanks with Khama Billiat and Tawanda
Maswanise occupying the channels in a 4-3-3 structure.
The players are already on the field warming-up for the crunch tie.
Warriors Starting 11 against Kenya
Washington Arubi, Godknows Murwira, Gerald Takwara, Jordan Zemura, Munashe Garan’anga, Marshal
Munetsi, Andy Rinomhota, Marvelous Nakamba, Khama Billiat, Walter Musona, Tawanda Maswanhise, Teenage Hadebe
We are moments before #ZimKen comes down at Peter Mokaba.
Here’s how the teams are lining up
Washington Arubi,Gerald Takwara, Jordan Zemura, Munashe Garan’anga, Marshal Munetsi, Andy Rinomhota, Marvelous Nakamba, Khama Billiat, Walter Musona, Tawanda Maswanhise, Teenage Hadebe
Byrne Amondi, Daniel Anyembe, Amos Obiero, Ronney Onyango, Michael Olunga,Eric Otieno, Anthony Agay, Jonestone Omorwa, Abud Abud, Joseph Okumu, Jonah Ayung]
Kenya get us underway at Peter Mokaba. They attempt to attack right away but Hadebe clears the lines. They have to do it all over again. #ZimKen
A minute into the tie, Zimbabwe get the first corner kick. Billiat gets behind it, a shot one and a curler but Kenya goalie collects comfortably. #ZimKenA minute into the tie, Zimbabwe get the first corner kick. Billiat gets behind it, a shot one and a curler but Kenya goalie collects comfortably. #ZimKen
Glaring mistake by captain Marvelous Nakamba at the back nearly got us punished. A weak reverse pass intercepted by Hadebe slid in to avert the danger. We are five minutes into this cracker and either team is trying to force mistakes and get off the line.#ZimKen
We are 10mins into this nervy tie. Kenya are looking dangerous on the flanks and have so far forces two corner kicks in quick succession. They look very hungry because they need the victory to stay in qualification race. The Warriors are sitting too deep but they are are equally containing the Harambee Stars. A draw is all we need to qualify for the 2025 Afcon.#ZimKen
What a miss! Walter Musona slides the ball right against the Kenya goalkeeper after benefitting from a sleek pass by Billiat. That should have gone in had Musona opted for a dink. That’s surely the best chance in the game so far. We are a quarter of an hour into it. #ZimKen
We are 20mins into the match and 70mins from clipping a place at the 2025 Afcon as things stand. After a rather slow start where we were clearly looking to smoother the marauding Kenyans, we are slowly creeping back into the match and things are balancing up. The Warriors are looking even more dangerous in right flank where Maswanhise is keeping the Harambee Stars busy.#ZimKen
25mins gone and play mostly concentrated in the middle of the even lush-green Peter Mokaba surface. Zimbabwe now knocking the ball around quite well but the final pass isn’t materialising. Kenya desperate and pumping the ball upfield but the Warriors need to be extra-organised at the back
Half-an-hour in and the Warriors get a freekick just outside the area. This is Musona’s range
Goal Warriors!
32mins
Maswanhise with rolls the ball in after being fed by Billiat.
Song, dance, whistles and ululations. Warriors fans are loving every bit of action. The team is on their way to getting a positive result. Let them party. Just five minutes before halftime
Zimbabwe 1-0 Kenya
44min, Garan’anga gets a bit over-excited as he overcarries the ball after completing a dribble. The ball is stolen and he commits a foul to hand Kenya an undeserved freekick. Kenya fluff it but that was too risky from Garan’anga.
45 minutes of first half regulation time gone and Zimbabwe firmly in the driving seat.#ZimKen
Half Time at Peter Mokaba Stadium
Zimbabwe 1-0 Kenya
Warriors fans say Zimbabwe will hold on and win the match.
Halftime Zimbabwe 1-0 Kenya
Warriors bench warming up at halftime and it looks like Michael Nees will be making some changes at the resumption.#ZimKen
We are back on at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. Just hold on to this 1-0 lead and we say Good Morning Morocco.#ZimKen
Goal Kenya
Zimbabwe 1-1 Kenya
Zimbabwe defence go to sleep and we concede
n elementary mistake by the centre-back and goalkeeper Arubi doesn’t help matters either. He seems to have picked a knock but he is back on his feet and play resumes.
This is a level that should be devoid of those blunders. Zimbabwe still hold the authority and if it ends like this, they will still go through to the Afcon finals next year. But we have a game in our hands.
56min Zimbabwe 1-1 Kenya
57min and Gerald Takwara has paved the way for Godknows Murwira. Garan’anga has moved from right-back to the heart of defence and Murwira takes the post at the right
Miss! Maswanhise comes tentalizingly close with a firm header but the Kenya goalkeeper is up to the task. It was a perfect move but no brace for the star winger, at least for now.
62min Zimbabwe 1-1 Kenya
Penalty claim turned down.
Billiat crafts out a good backhill on Munetsi who charges towards goal but a thicket of Kenyan defenders look like taking him down right in the box. But the referee waves play-on.
69min-Zimbabwe 1-1 Kenya
Double substitution. 75’
Divine Lunga and Terrence Dzvukamanja come on for Tawanda Maswanhise and Walter Musona.
Lunga goes straight to left-back and Jordan Zemura pushes upfield and the flank immediately comes to life.
Zimbabwe 1-1 Kenya
80mins at the Peter Mokaba and the clock moving exactly where Zimbabwe want it to go. The scoreline still at 1-1 and that’s just 10 mins from rubber-stamping our ticket to the 2025 Afcon finals.
Substitution. Douglas Mapfumo comes on for Khama Billiat after 84mins.
The party can start now!
It’s a matter of just winding up the clock. Football can be tricky but for now the Warriors’ victory song “Yave Nyama yekugocha” is getting even louder.
You gotta love it.
A sixth Afcon appearance can’t get any closer than this.
Four minutes added time
Zimbabwe 1-1 Kenya
Zimbabwe qualify for 2025 Afcon!!!
The party has started. Warriors celebrating in the changing room after clipping a 1-1 draw that earned them a place at the 2025 Afcon finals to be held in Morocco next year
Warriors players dedicate the qualification to the late goalkeeper George Chigova
Maswanhise reaction to first goal in first start for Warriors
