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Tadious Manyepo, Harare Bureau

Kenya 0-0 Zimbabwe

DESPITE a mixed performance, Zimbabwe kicked off their 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a draw against Kenya at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda. Under the guidance of new coach Michael Nees, the Warriors displayed determination but struggled to capitalise on their opportunities.

Playing in an adopted home ground due to the lack of an approved venue in Zimbabwe, the team will face Cameroon at the same stadium in their upcoming Group J match. A strong start against Kenya, a relatively easier opponent, was crucial, but the Warriors ultimately settled for a point.

The squad needed to begin the campaign perfectly against a relatively easy opponent in the form of the Harambe Stars. Yet it was Kenya who carried the most energy in the opening phases of the game, especially threatening on the right flank where Austine Otieno was having a field day over Godknows Murwira.

With all eyes on him after being thrown straight into the deep end following a three-year international retirement, Khama Billiat never disappointed. The pint-sized talisman looked ever likely to supply or score the goal for the Warriors if they were ever going to. 

The star midfielder should have recorded a super assist had Walter Musona been a bit quicker to meet a diagonal drive pass as Zimbabwe sniffed the Kenyan goal for the first time, 10 minutes into the game. Once the Warriors showed intent, the Harambe Stars limited their forward forays, resulting in play being mostly restricted to the midfield. Kenya enjoyed most of the ball, but Zimbabwe kept their territory well, with Andy Rinomhota especially outstanding in midfield battles, winning duels, tackles and interceptions with conviction. He worked overtime, at times with captain Marshal Munetsi not helping matters as he never asserted himself on the beautiful Mandela National Stadium turf.

The skipper got the best chance for the Warriors with Billiat sliding the ball his way, but he somehow, inexplicably, missed the ball completely with Kenya goalkeeper Byrne Omondi off his position. A follow-up by Jordan Zemura couldn’t yield the elusive goal, with the Udinese player slow to hit the ball home as the Kenyans survived the biggest scare of the opening half.

That missed chance energised the Warriors, who enjoyed some raucous support from a handful of vuvuzela-blowing Zimbabweans based in the Pearl of Africa. Prince Dube should have opened the scoring three minutes before the break when receiving another super pass from Billiat. However, he took two touches to the wrong side of goal, narrowing his own angle before shooting straight at Omondi. That miss summed up the frustrating afternoon for the Warriors, who then sat back for most of the second half as if to confirm their satisfaction with a point. Surprisingly jittery all afternoon and wayward in his service, veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi made his experience count after smothering Eric Otieno’s low shot from close range before the defence cleared their lines with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Nees refreshed his men by pulling out Dube, Musona, and Tawanda Chirewa at different intervals in the second period. One of the substitutes, Douglas Mapfumo, gave the Warriors a new attacking impetus, while winger Daniel Musendami had to do both attacking and defensive work, helping out Murwira, who was being subdued on the right.

Billiat and Tawanda Maswanhise got some decent chances, but the Kenyan defence was equal to the task, blocking both efforts. At the finish line, Kenya and Zimbabwe couldn’t be separated. 

Nees said that for a team which had only two full training sessions together, a draw wasn’t a bad way to open a campaign.

“We played against a team with a lot of optimism. I am actually satisfied with the performance. We battled at the beginning, a little bit shaky, a little bit cramped, I must admit,” said Nees. 

“The longer the game went on, the better we became. It was a good performance but not a great one. But for me, it was a good landing. We had our first training on Monday together, Tuesday the second, and basically, we had a full squad on Wednesday. Two sessions with a full squad and the danger is we are going to overload the players and forget everything. We created some chances, but our game could be more improved. Overall, I am satisfied with the type of play; I think they did well.”

The Warriors do not have much time to reflect on what could have been in yesterday’s match as they have already switched their focus to their second Group J match against Cameroon on Tuesday. Only the top two teams from the four-country group will get tickets to the 2025 Afcon finals to be staged in Morocco next year. The qualifiers will all be played in a crash programme which ends in November. Namibia is the fourth country in Group J.

Teams

Kenya

Byrne Omondi, Eric Omondi (John Avire 67min), Ronney Onyango, Eric Otieno (Abud Abudi 85min), Richard Odada, Duke Abuya, Austine Otieno, Antoney Agay, Alphonce Omija (Amos Obiero 21min), Sylvester Ahono, Joseph Okumu

Zimbabwe

Washington Arubi, Godknows Murwira, Jordan Zemura, Gerald Takwara, Munashe Garan’anga, Marshal Munetsi, Andy Rinomhota, Khama Billiat, Tawanda Chirewa (Daniel Msendami 58min) Walter Musona (Tawanda Maswanhise 59min), Prince Dube (Douglas Mapfumo 81min)