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Warriors assistant coach Mkhuphali Masuku

From Petros Kausiyo in CAPE TOWN, South Africa
SUPERSPORT United assistant coach and former Zimbabwe international Kaitano Tembo has backed the Warriors to finally rise to the occasion and overcome Burkina Faso to book their place in the African Nations Championship quarter-finals.
The Warriors will face the Stallions in a final Group B assignment at Athlone in a match which will get underway at 7PM tonight.
A victory will guarantee the Warriors a top two finish without having to worry about the result of the other match between Uganda and Morocco which will be played simultaneously at Cape Town Stadium.

The Warriors could still sail through with their third straight draw but only if the Cranes beat the Atlas Lions but it is an outright win that will certainly seal a place in the last eight for the first time since the inception of the Chan tournament in Cote d’Ivoire four years ago.
Tembo, a former Zimbabwe vice-captain who was part of a fine generation that ended the country’s wait for a Nations Cup debut in 2004, said he was convinced that the Warriors had the pedigree to clear the Stallions hurdle despite Ian Gorowa’s men having been the most sterile side in Group B.

The Warriors are without a goal from two 0-0 draws against Morocco and Uganda despite having dominated their meetings with Atlas Lions and the Cranes.

Former Dynamos and SuperSport hardman Tembo reckoned yesterday that fate had somewhat been cruel to the Warriors and Morocco arguing that they had been the best Group B teams who ironically found themselves with only just two points to show for their energies.
Tembo also commended Ian Gorowa’s men for playing a “tactical and disciplined game’’ at this tournament.

“I think they have been playing very good football, tactically organised but it is their decisions in the final third that have been lacking.
“It is also very disappointing that Morocco and Zimbabwe are the best teams that should have qualified and somehow I think they have been very unlucky not to get at least a win each,’’ he said.

Tembo also felt that the fact that the Warriors’ overall showing had been impressive would leave their coach Gorowa with an even bigger headache as he cannot afford to make drastic changes for the showdown with Burkina Faso.

“It is not like our team has not been creating chances and as a coach myself I feel for Ian because it is very difficult to change much because they have not been playing badly’’.

Tembo suggested that the Warriors would also have to throw some of the caution they exhibited in the first two games and “go all out on attack against Burkina Faso’’.

“They have to go all out on attack but at the same time you do not compromise your defence but maybe we can still play with four at the back, four midfielders and two out and out strikers and hopefully they can take their chances this time around’’.