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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Warriors are three points away from securing a place at the 2019 Total African Nations finals in Cameroon following their gritty 1-1 stalemate with Democratic Republic of Congo at the National Sports Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Zimbabwe shot into an early lead just 58 seconds after kick-off through Khama Billiat, who scrambled the ball home after a miscue by Knox Mutizwa who played his first full match for the national team in the qualifiers.

Central defender Teenage Hadebe turned the ball past his own goalkeeper George Chigova in an attempt to clear a swerving Issama Mpeko cross from the left in the 23rd minute.

But to his credit, the former Highlanders and Chicken Inn defender picked himself up and never allowed the unfortunate incident to affect his game by displaying a splendid performance in the heart of the

Warriors defence alongside FC Platinum’s Kevin Moyo.

So resolute was Zimbabwe’s backline that the DRC only had three shots at goal in the entire 90 minutes, while the Warriors had 10.
Hadebe apologised to the nation for his own goal, which temporarily derailed Zimbabwe’s qualification.

“I am very sorry for disappointing the whole nation after scoring the own-goal that eventually denied the team what would have been a remarkable achievement for the country. We were leading and pressing the opponents hard as we wanted to score another goal, but unfortunately I am the one who scored the own goal that afforded the opponents the equaliser. I am sorry to the fans, to my teammates and even to myself. These things happen in football and I am happy I tried to lift my spirits after that mistake,” Hadebe told our Harare Bureau.

“I was down, I mean down after that miscue which resulted in the goal and I never thought I would come out of that incident and still perform well. I told myself not to get down, I had to work hard and try to be positive for the good of the country,” he said.

The point gained and Liberia’s 2-1 defeat of Congo saw the Warriors maintain their three points lead at the top of the table and need three points from their two remaining games to qualify for their fourth Nations Cup finals.

Qualification can be secured next month by avoiding defeat against Liberia at The Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia.

Three points will take the Warriors to 11 points and with two teams per group going through to the finals, the feat will be enough to send Sunday Chidzambwa, the Warriors gaffer, to his second appearance as a coach at the continental finals, having led Zimbabwe to their maiden qualification in 2004 finals in Tunisia.

Former AmaZulu and Caps United coach Charles Mhlauri took the nation to the 2006 jamboree in Egypt and it was to be a decade-long wait before the next dance with the best under Callisto Pasuwa in Gabon last year.

The Warriors need to go to Monrovia with a proper mind set and aim for an outright win before finishing off their group games at home to Congo Brazzaville in March 2019.

The Congo game will certainly not be an easy one, especially if they beat DRC in Brazzaville next month, as that will take their points’ tally to seven and leave both nations with an equal chance of qualifying for the finals, hence the need for the Warriors to avoid defeat in Monrovia next month.

                  Group G table
P W D   L F  A GD Pts
Zimbabwe   4   2   2   0  7   3   4   8
DR Congo    4  1   2     1  6   5   1   5
Congo           4   1  1     2    6  7  -1   4
Liberia          4   1   1     2   4  8  -4  4