The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga
ZIMBABWE’s next Africa Cup of Nations assignment against Algeria might be slated for August 2020, but the Warriors have a lot to do amid revelations that their rivals are already planning for that top-of-the table showdown.
The Warriors have a tendency of going cold during every break.
Zimbabwe’s Warriors are currently occupying second position in Group H of the 2021 Nations qualifiers, two points behind the Desert Foxes of Algeria, who have accumulated six points on the back of a blistering start that began with a thumping triumph over Zambia in Blida.
Reigning African champions Algeria then followed that up with a key 1-0 away win over Botswana at the National Stadium in Gaborone.
Botswana had earlier forced a brave 0-0 draw against the Warriors in Harare before Joey Antipas’ men concluded their 2019 assignments on a winning note after Khama Billiat’s brace ensured a 2-1 win over Zambia in Lusaka.
That victory, the first ever over Zambia in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, breathed life back into the Warriors’ qualification bid.
It also condemned 2012 champions Chipolopolo to the bottom of the Group H standings as they are the only team from the pool without a point.
For all their dominance over Zambia in the Cosafa Cup, Zimbabwe was yet to beat their Northern neighbours in a Nations Cup assignment.
But it is the way the Warriors always go to sleep, only to wake up days before an assignment, that has ignited the senior team’s enthusiasts’ fear that the Desert Foxes might catch them napping come August 30, 2020.
Meetings between the two teams have been few and far between.
In the six times they have met the Warriors since 1989, Algeria have struggled to assert their authority on Zimbabwe. Their clashes are always close battles.
The two sides have hosted each other twice and played on neutral soil on as many occasions.
Their first meeting was in 1989, when they clashed in a qualifier for the 1990 World Cup.
Zimbabwe suffered their biggest loss to Algeria on January 6, 1989, at Stade du 19 Mai 1956 in Annaba when Algeria, led by legendary striker Raber Majer, beat them 3-0.
Majer and his team, which also included Djamel Menad, then completed a double over the Warriors with a 2-1 win at the National Sports Stadium on June 25 of the same year.
The Warriors had to wait until 2004 to record their first and single victory over the Desert Foxes on their maiden appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Tunisia.
In that famous victory, the late Adam Ndlovu and Joel Luphahla struck for Zimbabwe while Hocine Achiou pulled one back for Algeria.
The last meeting between the two sides came at the 2017 Nations Cup in Gabon, where the Desert Foxes battled from behind to force a 2-2 draw with Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez scoring late to salvage a point for the North Africans after Kudakwashe Mahachi and Nyasha Mushekwi had given the Warriors a deserved lead.
The Desert Foxes, just like the Warriors, had a disastrous Nations Cup outing in Gabon, thereby forcing their new Football Association president Kheirredine Zetchi to order a rebuilding exercise.
Zetchi had replaced Mohamed Raouraoua at the helm of the football body and his audacious bid included appointing a new substantive coach for the team.
“There are priorities, namely the appointment of a coach.
“We will opt for the candidate who corresponds to our brand of football. We all agree that Algerian football is centred on short passes and dribbling,” said Zetchi.
Two years later, Zetchi was basking in glory as Algeria won the ultimate prize in African football at the tournament in Egypt.
Since their moment of triumph at the Cairo National stadium in July, the Desert Foxes have not looked back.
In contrast, the Warriors keep going back and forth with an interim set up of Rahman Gumbo, Lloyd Mutasa and Brenna Msiska as well as that of Lloyd Chitembwe, Tonderai Ndiraya and Tembo Chuma, which is headed by Joey Antipas.
Antipas’ initial six-match mandate with the Warriors ended in success in Lusaka last Tuesday as the senior team finally found a way to beat Chipolopolo in a Nations Cup qualifier.
Zifa has to quickly settle the Warriors coach issue as Zimbabwe heads into a busy 2020. The Warriors will chase glory in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and at the African Nations Championship finals in Cameroon.
Acting Zifa vice-president Philemon Machana acknowledged the need to decisively deal with the issue.
He said Zifa’s technical committee, which is headed by board member Bryton Malandule, is working on addressing the matter.
This will become the fourth time in three years for Zifa to task someone to take charge of the Warriors.
“There is going to be a technical development meeting before the end of this week. lt will be led by Bryton Malandule and will review the contracts of the technical team.
“After the technical development meeting, the board will then meet to map the way forward based on the recommendations that would have been made by the technical committee,” said Machana.
Machana said Zifa is putting in place measures to allow the Warriors to have decent preparations ahead of 2020’s tight schedule.
“We do not want to promise too much, but we will do our best to give the Warriors the adequate preparations they require so that we qualify for both the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations,” he said.
While the four points garnered from matches against Botswana and Zambia put the Warriors in good stead for qualification for the Nations Cup, their real test in Group H will come when they visit the Algerians.
Zimbabwe-Algeria head-to-head clashes
January 6, 1989 Algeria 3-0 Zimbabwe (1990 World Cup qualifier)
June 25, 1989 Zimbabwe 1-2 Algeria (1990 World Cup qualifier)
February 3, 2004 Algeria 1-2 Zimbabwe (Tunisia 2004 Africa Cup of Nations finals)
June 20, 2004 Zimbabwe 1-1 Algeria (2006 World Cup Qualifier/Afcon qualifier)
June 19, 2005 Algeria 2-2 Zimbabwe (2006 World Cup Qualifier/Afcon qualifier)
January 15 ,2017 Algeria 2-2 Zimbabwe (Gabon 2017 Afcon)
