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THE Warriors are on the brink of booking themselves a spot in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in Gabon after running out 4-0 victors over Swaziland in Harare yesterday to top Group L with eight points.

Second half goals by Knowledge Musona, Costa Nhamoinesu, Evans Rusike and Khama Billiat catapulted Zimbabwe three points ahead of second-placed Sihlangu, while the two other teams in the group Malawi and Guinea have two points each and will meet in Blantyre this afternoon.

The Warriors need just three points from their remaining two games against Malawi at home in June and away to Guinea in September to finish as group leaders and book the sole ticket to the continental showcase after a 10-year absence.

The victory is certainly the best news for depressed soccer fans in a long time and it will be astonishing if the Warriors do not qualify for Gabon 2017. Failure would most definitely rekindle allegations of match-fixing, which surfaced in the run-up to the first encounter against Swaziland when Zifa made startling accusations against executive member responsible for development Edzai Kasinauyo, former association chief executive officer Henrietta Rushwaya, assistant coach Nation Dube, former head coach Ian Gorowa and two goalkeepers based in South Africa.

Dube was immediately suspended as the national association launched investigations in a bid to get to the bottom of the allegations in conjunction with their South African counterparts, who quickly charged eight people.

The allegations made the first game in Mbabane tense for the Warriors as they failed to string together any meaningful touches. Had it not been for the agility of goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva in Swaziland, the Warriors could have been playing catch up football in Harare yesterday.

However, playing for the first time on home turf since the match-fixing allegations surfaced, the Warriors seemed determined to prove to their fans, who came in large numbers, that they were not party to underhand dealings of the underworld. And they proved it in style as they left Sihlangu wondering what had hit them with four well executed goals.

It also looked like the disappointment of being barred from participating in the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers was also in the players’ minds as they remained relentless in attack despite being four goals ahead.

The Warriors displayed some deft touches that fans had hardly seen in a long time and we hope they continue to play entertaining football that produces goals and victories in their remaining two matches in June and September.

We believe this can only be achieved if Zifa can contain off-the-field scandals that have rampantly tainted the local game. Every player dreams of playing at the biggest stage, the World Cup, and that we were banned from the qualifiers for administrative bungling is why we are imploring Zifa to ensure they clear all boardroom hurdles so our Warriors only concentrate on playing football and nothing else.

Our boys were under intense pressure to perform and win at any cost yesterday due to the dark cloud of match-fixing hanging over Zimbabwean football. Had we lost to Sihlangu, all talk on the streets would certainly have been centred on match-fixing.

These allegations have and continue to hurt football in the country and will spread like a cancer and devalue our game if Zifa does not tackle the scourge head-on and with speed. For as long as they remain unresolved, they will continue to overshadow our football. We would, however, like to congratulate our Warriors for realising that their responsibility as players is to get out on the pitch and play well for the fans.

Zifa must now do its part by punishing those involved in match-fixing and clearing those that are innocent so that we are left with no doubt that our Warriors only go out to compete and not to throw games.

Well done once again to our Warriors for a fantastic and emphatic performance yesterday.