Zimbabwe’s long-awaited return to the National Sports Stadium ended in disappointment after DR Congo secured a 2-1 victory in Monday night’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Yoane Wissa opened the scoring for the visitors after 30 minutes before Samuel Moutoussamy doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time. Marshall Munetsi pulled one back in the 93rd minute, but his late goal could not rescue the Warriors.
The result gave DR Congo their second consecutive Group E victory. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, suffered their first defeat after beginning the campaign with a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Sierra Leone.
A special night ends in frustration
The match carried extra emotional weight for Zimbabwean football.
Zimbabwe had not played a senior international match at home since November 2021. The National Sports Stadium subsequently lost permission to host international football and underwent extensive renovations.
Therefore, the return to Harare attracted a capacity crowd eager to welcome the Warriors home. President Emmerson Mnangagwa was also among the spectators inside the 60,000-seater stadium.
However, DR Congo quickly silenced the celebrations with an assured first-half performance.
The Leopards arrived with confidence after beating Equatorial Guinea 2-0 in their opening qualifier. They also carried the experience gained from reaching the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
That difference showed during the opening 45 minutes.
Wissa punishes Zimbabwe mistake
Zimbabwe struggled to contain Yoane Wissa, who constantly threatened the Warriors’ defence with his movement and sharp finishing.
The Newcastle United forward broke the deadlock in the 30th minute. Goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze failed to hold a cross, allowing Wissa to react first and poke the loose ball into the net.
Wissa nearly scored again before halftime. One effort beat Chipezeze but rolled narrowly wide, while Zimbabwe struggled to establish control in midfield.
DR Congo eventually doubled their lead in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.
This time, Wissa turned provider. His pass released Samuel Moutoussamy, who finished the move to send the visitors into the break with a commanding 2-0 advantage.
Warriors fight back after the break
Zimbabwe returned for the second half with greater urgency.
The Warriors pushed higher, competed more aggressively and finally began creating problems for the Congolese defence. Nevertheless, DR Congo remained dangerous whenever they moved forward.
Wissa came close to scoring his second goal shortly after the hour mark. However, his effort struck the woodwork and kept Zimbabwe within touching distance.
The Warriors continued searching for a way back into the match. Their pressure almost produced a late breakthrough when a dangerous attempt from striker Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya forced goalkeeper Matthieu Epolo into an important save.
Munetsi eventually reduced the deficit in the 93rd minute. The midfielder found the net following late pressure from Zimbabwe, scoring his third goal in two qualifying matches.
However, the goal arrived too late to inspire another comeback.
Munetsi continues impressive scoring run
Despite the defeat, Munetsi has emerged as Zimbabwe’s most influential player during the opening qualifiers.
He scored twice as the Warriors recovered from 2-0 down to beat Sierra Leone 3-2 in Morocco. He then found the net again against DR Congo, although his latest goal proved to be only a consolation.
His goals have helped Zimbabwe remain firmly in the qualification race. However, the team will need to produce more consistent performances across both halves of future matches.
The Warriors cannot afford another slow start when the campaign resumes.
DR Congo take control of Group E
DR Congo now lead Group E with six points from two matches. They have scored four goals and conceded only once.
Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea sit behind them with three points each, while Sierra Leone remain without a point.
The Warriors will face Equatorial Guinea twice during the November international window. Those matches could play a major role in determining who joins DR Congo in the qualification positions.
Zimbabwe still control their destiny because the top two teams in Group E will qualify for the 2027 AFCON finals. However, the pressure has increased following Monday’s home defeat.
A painful result, but the campaign remains alive
Losing the first home international in almost five years will hurt Zimbabwe’s players and supporters. Nevertheless, the result does not end the Warriors’ qualification hopes.
They have three points from their opening two matches and still have four fixtures remaining. Moreover, their second-half response against one of Africa’s strongest teams offered some encouragement.
Zimbabwe must now turn that improvement into complete performances.
The celebrations surrounding the National Sports Stadium’s return showed how much international football means to the country. The next challenge is ensuring that future home matches deliver points as well as memorable occasions.
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