The Sunday Mail
Kallisto Pasuwa and his men will head for the 2017 African Cup of Nations finals in Gabon if they collect seven points from a possible nine.
THE magic number is 12.
After an Even Stevens match day three that saw all the teams in Group L pick up a point each on Good Friday, the Warriors remain joint leaders with a Swaziland side they played a 1-all draw in Mbababane.
Both teams are on five points while the other two teams in the group, Guinea and Malawi, are on two with nine still to play for.
Guinea and Malawi, who are both still searching for their first set of maximum points, can only add the campaign with a maximum of 11 points.
Swaziland, who lead the group by virtue of a superior goal difference, can clock a maximum of 14 points if they win all their remaining three matches.
Crucially though, one of those matches for Sihlangu is tomorrow’s qualifier against Zimbabwe at the National Sports Stadium.
If the Warriors get their act together and collect maximum points tomorrow, Swaziland’s maximum possible points haul will be 11.
The 12 point mark will be a bridge too far for all the other three Group L teams but Pasuwa’s men.
And with home tie against Malawi following in June before a visit to Guinea to round off the campaign, Zimbabwe seemingly have it all in their hands.
However, it’s not a cut and dried affair as skipper Willard Katsande and his lieutenants were poor in their 1-all draw away in Swaziland on Good Friday.
For the second Afcon qualifier on the bounce, Zimbabwe conceded in the second minute, Felix Badenhorst drifting away from Eric Chipeta before heading past an exposed Tatenda Mukuruva.
Although they tried to play their way back into the game, the Warriors lacked fluidity going forward with Khama Billiat terribly off colour on the left wing.
Cuthbert Malajila looked a tad too slow, Chipeta struggled at right back, Mathew Rusike – who partnered Malajila upfront – hassled all day but lacked supply while Knowledge Musona seemed wasted on the right side of midfield.
Costa Nhamoinesu was solid at centre half while Elisha Muroiwa had a decent outing after getting the nod ahead of Partson Jaure.
Having gotten the early goal, they so much yearned for Swaziland to sit back, waiting to pounce on the counter.
Consequently, the Warriors bossed possession but lacked the final pass and could have played on for days without scoring had the football gods not smiled on them just before the breather.
Musona’s corner kick looked under done but it caused so much pandemonium in the hosts’ box such that Njabulo Ndlovu turned the ball into his own goal.
Swaziland asked serious questions in the second half but Mukuruva was solid while the changes made by Pasuwa – Evans Rusike coming in for Malajila and Nyasha Mushekwi coming in for Mathew Rusike – did little to breathe life into the Warriors.
It was a savourless show by our boys, a wishy-washy performance that ought to have ended with them on the receiving end.
Malawi made Pasuwa and his men breath much easier a few hour later as they held Guinea to a goalless draw at the September 28 Stadium.
Now after the lucky escape in Mbabane, the Warriors are back home and Swaziland are expected this afternoon for tomorrow’s showdown.
But Pasuwa has serious calls to make ahead of that must win tie.
Should Chipeta continue playing at right back when he has spent the whole season doing business at centre half for Chipa United?
Do we really need to sacrifice artistry for artisanship by playing two defensive midfielders with no place for a play maker in the middle of the park?
Should Danny Phiri start ahead of the Dutch based Marvellous Nakamba, who was an unused substitute in Swaziland?
Billiat’s ability is undoubted but are the effects of a hectic travelling arrangement that saw the Mamelodi Sundowns man spend much more time in the air than at home over the past week, taking their toll on him?
Speaking after the team’s return from Swaziland yesterday, Pasuwa hinted at making some changes Eric can play at both right back and central defence so I had no reservations about playing there.
“As for having two defensive midfielders I dont understand why people say it was a defensive approach when we had four out and out attackers.
“On Khama I agree that fatigue must be a factor because he has been travelling since Monday,” he said.
The Warriors coach believes the vast playing surface at the National Sports Stadium will expose a Sihlangu outfit that is known to crack when stretched wide.
“Playing at the National Sports Stadium also gives us some advantage because the last time we played at Rufaro, our foreign based players struggled with the artificial turf.
“The Monday game can be won but we need the right attitude. In Swaziland whenever we lost posession our chase back was poor and that has to be addressed if we are to beat Swaziland said Pasuwa.”
Teams
Zimbabwe: T Mukuruva, C Nhamoinesu, E Muroiwa, E Chipeta, O Bhasera; W Katsande, D Phiri, C Malajila (E Rusike 78th), K Billiat, K Musona, M Rusike (N Mushekwi 62nd)
Swaziland: N Gwebu, S Mkhweli, M Dlamini, S Mdluli, M Lukheee, X Sibandze, M Mkhontfo (T Tsabedze 74th), S Ndzinisa, (S Hlatshwako 46th), N Ndlovu, Sifiso, F Badernhorst
Group L Log standings
P W D L F A GD PTS
Swaziland 3 1 2 0 5 4 1 5
Zimbabwe 3 1 2 0 4 3 1 5
Malawi 3 0 2 1 3 4 -1 2
Guinea 3 0 2 1 2 3 -1 2
