The Zimbabwe Warriors have fully settled into Morocco’s chilly winter climate as they put the final touches on preparations ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group B opener against Egypt at the Stade d’Agadir tomorrow evening.
The biennial continental tournament officially kicks off today, with hosts Morocco taking on Comoros in Rabat, while the Warriors gear up for a challenging campaign in a tough group that also features South Africa and Angola. Zimbabwe will face Egypt in their opening match for the third time in 21 years, highlighting the historical significance of the fixture.
Coach Marian “Mario” Marinica and his squad relocated to Agadir from Casablanca, where they had been in camp since arriving in Morocco on Tuesday. Following the road trip, the team conducted a training session to shake off the journey, and they are scheduled to conclude preparations with targeted drills today, focusing on tactical discipline and finishing touches ahead of taking on the seven-time African champions.
History casts a long shadow over the upcoming clash. Zimbabwe have previously met Egypt in opening AFCON group matches on two occasions, in 2004 and 2019, losing narrowly both times. At their tournament debut in Tunisia in 2004, the Warriors went down 2–1 to Egypt before exiting at the group stage. Fifteen years later, in Egypt’s 2019 finals, Zimbabwe again fell 1–0 in their opener, once more failing to advance beyond the pools. These past results have made the match a psychological hurdle the Warriors are determined to overcome.
Marinica is fully aware of the importance of a strong start, stressing that opening matches often shape the trajectory of an entire tournament. The Romanian coach brings a wealth of AFCON experience, having guided Malawi to the Round of 16 at the 2021 finals, staged in 2022 in Cameroon. That achievement distinguishes him from previous Zimbabwe coaches, as he becomes the first to enter an AFCON campaign with prior knockout-stage experience. Notably, he is also the first foreign coach to lead the Warriors at the finals.
Warriors Determined to Break Egypt Hoodoo
Zimbabwe’s AFCON history has been unforgiving. Coaches including Sunday Chidzambwa in 2004 and 2019, Charles Mhlauri in 2006, Kalisto Pasuwa in 2017, and Norman Mapeza in 2021 all failed to take the team beyond the group stages. Marinica’s mandate is clear: to change that narrative and guide the Warriors toward a more competitive showing on the continental stage.
Acknowledging the strength of Group B, Marinica accepts that Zimbabwe enter the tournament as underdogs, but he insists that this status should not weigh on the players. He described Egypt as the continent’s most successful team, praised South Africa’s recent resurgence, and noted Angola’s quality, pointing out that all three opponents boast players plying their trade at high levels abroad. Despite the formidable opposition, Marinica emphasised that Zimbabwe are in Morocco to compete, not merely to participate, and he has put in place a clear tactical approach aimed at challenging each opponent.
Marinica also praised his squad’s spirit, noting that the players are in high morale and motivated to give their best. The team’s focus, discipline, and unity, he said, are central to their plan for breaking the pattern of early exits that has plagued Zimbabwean football.
However, the Warriors’ preparations suffered a late setback on Friday when midfielder Andy Rinomhota withdrew from camp due to family reasons. CAF regulations prevent squad replacements after the group stage, meaning the team will have to proceed without the Reading player. Despite this challenge, team captain Marvelous Nakamba has urged his teammates to remain focused and fearless. Nakamba called on the squad to approach the match against Egypt with determination, insisting that a strong performance in the opener could set the tone for the remainder of the campaign.
With the Warriors now fully acclimatised to Morocco’s conditions and final preparations underway, Zimbabweans will be hoping that Marinica’s experience and tactical acumen can finally help the national team overcome the psychological hurdle posed by Egypt. After more than two decades of narrow defeats in opening AFCON matches against the Pharaohs, the Warriors are eager to rewrite history, and tomorrow night’s clash at the Stade d’Agadir promises to be a defining moment in Zimbabwe’s continental football journey.
The stage is set for Zimbabwe to make a statement: under Marinica, with Nakamba leading on the field, the Warriors are determined to compete, challenge, and, ultimately, break the Egypt curse that has haunted their AFCON campaigns for 21 years.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
