Tadious Manyepo in FRANCISTOWN, Botswana

Zambia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  (0) 1

IT has been long in coming and when it did at Obed Itani Chilume in Francistown, Botswana, it sparked a wild party for those in the stadium and thousands many more watching on television back home.

This is because the Warriors finally gave their fans something to celebrate after an eight-year trophy drought following this soothing victory in the Mukuru Four Nations Cup final encounter against perennial rivals Zambia.

The Warriors last won a trophy in 2018 when they lifted the COSAFA Cup under the legendary Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa in Polokwane, South Africa.

It was Chidzambwa’s second COSAFA Cup triumph on the bounce and a record fourth overall as he had previously won the regional tourney in 2003 and 2009.

Since then any form of silverware has been elusive for the Warriors.

And it has been the usual so near, yet so far narrative for them both in the COSAFA tournament and some other competitions, including another Four Nations Cup in Malawi, in between.

But they finally got it right under some perfect weather conditions in a floodlit Obed Itani Chilume.

Substitute Junior Zindoga forced Zambian defender Kafunti Saisada into scoring an own goal late in the game when the match looked like it was going to be decided on penalties.

Chipolpoplo would probably have been fancying their chances in the lottery having edged Kalisto Pasuwa’s Malawi 9-8 on penalties in the semi-final.

For Zimbabwe, last night’s win over the Zambians was very much unlike the comprehensive manner in which they dismissed Botswana in the semi-final.

Zambia brought their alternative team , fused with some of their regulars as they also dispatched another team led by Patrick Daka to face Lionel Messi’s Argentina in an international friendly in the South American country.

But Zimbabwe didn’t have a full-strength squad either after more than seven regulars withdrew from the Botswana trip due to different reasons including injuries.

And whenever the two cross-Zambezi rivals face-off, the showdown is always tough and last night wasn’t different.

The Warriors are now in a different trajectory however and they were the favourites to win right from the first whistle.

Their decisiveness in the middle of the park, marshalled by captain Marvelous Nakamba was always telling and definitive.

Under coach Marian “Mario” Marinica, the Warriors haven’t found it difficult to score and midway through the opening half, Macauley Bonne headed home from a Mongameli Tshuma cross but the effort was flagged for offside.

It came moments after the striker had failed to beat Zambian ‘keeper Joseph Mulenga in a one versus one situation.

Basically Zimbabwe pitched tent in Zambia’s defensive third but Mulenga was always denying them the breakthrough goal including in the second half when Bill Antonio also bumped into his sprawling body when the fans were already celebrating.

Then the moment arrived when the Antonio laid the ball onto Zindoga and who carried it down the flank, left his marker for dead and patiently waited before he lifted it for the own goal. Marinica was happy with the win, just five months into his contract.

“I think I should congratulate all the backroom staff, everyone that actually helped us, including the players, they’ve done fantastically well to get together and to actually to try to push to practice what we wanted to do.

“I think it’s a good stepping stone for us to be able to move on from now,” said Marinica.

“And also, I want to congratulate all the organizers for supporting us and Botswana FA for trying to make this tournament perfect.

“Our opponents worked very hard and it was a very, very tough battle.

“If you look, Zambia was very close. They had their chances, we had our chances.

“So it was a very, very close match.

“I think overall, it was a very good performance from us. But at the same time, our opponents, they put us, you know, under quite a lot of pressure and they were very good.

“If you were to look at Botswana in the second half and Zambia, most of the match, so I think we’ve done well.

“But at the same time, we faced a fantastic challenge from the opponents.”

Zindoga said: “I am happy to have helped my country. I am happy for the first international trophy in my hand. That’s fantastic.”

Marinica said the win will help the squad’s mentality going into more tough competitions lined up for the year including the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Teams:

Zambia: Joseph Mulenga, Jonathan Kalimina (Headson Paira 62min), Jackson Phiri, Kafunti Saisada, Lukas Mutoshi, Humphrey Kawanga, Patson Kwataine, Abel Nyirongo (Derick Bulaya 62min) Abraham Sankombo (Golden Mashata 70min), Eliya Mandanji

Zimbabwe: Elvis  Chipezeze, Emmanuel Jalai, Godknows Murwira, Gerald Takwara, Shane Maroodza, Isheanesu Mauchi (Corbin Mthunzi 80min), Marvelous Nakamba, Mongameli Tshuma (Junior Selemani 46min)(Junior Zindoga 62min), Jonah Fabisch, Bill Antonio, Macauley Bonne