Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
MARIAN “MARIO” MARINICA is hurting after seeing his Warriors surrender the lead, rather easily, before losing their opening Africa Cup of Nations Group B match to continental heavyweights Egypt in Agadir, Morocco on Monday night.
It was the closest Zimbabwe had come to breaking a 14-match jinx against the mighty Pharoahs after Tanzania-based striker Prince Dube had put them ahead after 20 minutes.
But after a gallant show in which they seemed to repel everything which the Egyptians threw at them, Marinica saw his charges drop their guard in the second half.
It was in contrast to the disciplined first manner in which they had applied themselves in the opening period, despite also surviving an avalanche of Egyptian attacks in the game’s opening stages.
The Warriors first surrendered when they allowed the North Africans to level matters via Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush’s goal before they eventually conceded a heartbreaking second at the death after skipper Mohamed Salah struck the sucker punch.
This meant the Warriors have once again lost their opening game at the Nations Cup in six appearances at the continental football show-piece.
It is also the third time they have lost to the Pharaohs at the Nations Cup group stage.
With South Africa also beating Angola 2-1 in the opening Group B game, Zimbabwe were left to anchor the standings, albeit, on alphabetical order, at the close of the Match Day One proceedings.
But as they switched bases from Agadir to Marrakech yesterday, so did the Warriors shift their attention to their upcoming decisive Group B assignment against Angola on Friday.
The Warriors will need to shift gears up in their last two games if they are to advance to the Round of 16 in what will be Zimbabwe’s first time to pull through the group stages at the AFCON.
After facing Angola on Boxing Day the Warriors will wrap up their group fixtures with another COSAFA derby clash rivals South Africa on December 29.
Marinica yesterday stressed that after he felt his men had slackened in a match they could have caused a major upset and beat the Egyptians.
The former Liberia and Malawi gaffer said: “To be honest, I was saying to the players in the changing room that sometimes teams that are this small are afraid to win matches.
“They are afraid to push hard like they did in the first half. Even though we shouted and gave instructions, the players still dropped too much, giving too much respect to the opponents.
“You cannot drop off. With these fantastic players like Egypt have, they will beat us, so we had to be aggressive and take our chances and not be fazed.”
While lamenting the lost chance to grab at least a point against the record seven-time African champions on Monday, Marinica still holds onto the firm belief that his Warriors will pull through in their next two games.
“I believe in my players,” he added.
“I believe that the players we put on the pitch could have won, but it is what it is. It is just one match and we are very proud of what we have done.
“Now, we have to move on and get four points from the next two matches (against Angola and South Africa).”
Practically, the Warriors can qualify for the next round with four points in the bag.
Marinica knows that very well after he did so with Malawi at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon.
The Flames clipped third place with four points under their belts in a group topped by Senegal with Guinea (also on four points) taking second place.
Zimbabwe were in the same pool and anchored proceedings with just three points.
And it is the experience that he picked with Malawi that is giving Marinica reason to believe.
With Malawi, just like what happened on Monday, Marinica narrowly lost 1-0 to Guinea in the opening game, in which the Flames defended gallantly before breaking down in the dying stages.
He then won his second game 2-1 against Zimbabwe and he is now looking at beating Angola on Friday to possibly repeat his feat with Malawi.
Skipper Marvellous Nakamba attributed their defeat to a lapse in concentration.
“I think we were almost there against Egypt but then we lapsed a bit.
“It’s quite a painful defeat but we pick the positives and move on.
“The next match will be key. We have to concentrate for the entire 90 minutes,” Nakamba said.
The Warriors and their legion of fans will be hoping to build on the momentum shown in the brave show against the Pharaohs.
Among the key positives from that opener was the assuring performance between the sticks from veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi and the imperious showing in midfield and down the left channel by Jonah Fabisch and Daniel Msendami.
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