President Mnangagwa hails Warriors after ‘spirited’ performance against DRC

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has thrown his weight behind the Warriors after witnessing Zimbabwe’s 2-1 defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the National Sports Stadium on Monday night.

The veteran leader was among the thousands of spectators who watched Zimbabwe return to the refurbished National Sports Stadium for a competitive international match in front of home supporters for the first time in almost five years.

Despite the defeat, the President described the Warriors’ performance as “proud and spirited”, praising the players for their effort against a strong and star-studded Congolese side.

“A proud and spirited performance by our national team tonight at the National Sports Stadium,” President Mnangagwa wrote on his Facebook page.

“While the final score did not go our way against the Democratic Republic of Congo, our players gave everything on the pitch and treated us to a genuinely magnificent game of football.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa (in the middle), Sports Minister Anselem Sanyatwe and ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi during the Warriors-DRC match at the National Sports Stadium. Picture: Ministry of Information

Zimbabwe were made to pay for a difficult first half, with Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa opening the scoring before Samuel Moutoussamy doubled the visitors’ advantage in first-half stoppage time.

The Warriors responded strongly after the break and were rewarded when Marshall Munetsi slotted home in the 93rd minute, but the late effort was not enough to prevent the Congolese from securing a 2-1 victory.

Mnangagwa, however, focused on the character displayed by the Warriors, saying the players had shown “exceptional character, skill, and resilience” against formidable opposition.

His message comes after the Warriors had produced a remarkable comeback in their opening Group E qualifier, recovering from two goals down to beat Sierra Leone 3-2 in Morocco last Thursday.

“Defeats are tough, but they are also the foundation of future victories,” Mnangagwa said, while pledging his continued support for the players and technical staff as Zimbabwe’s AFCON qualification campaign progresses.

The match also represented a significant moment for Zimbabwean football, with the Warriors finally returning to the National Sports Stadium after years of playing their home matches away from the country because the facility had been deemed unsuitable for international football, by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The stadium’s return was greeted by a large crowd, with the match having sold out ahead of kick-off.

President Mnangagwa also paid tribute to the supporters who turned out in numbers to welcome the Warriors home.

“Thank you to the thousands of patriotic fans who filled the stadium and roared until the final whistle,” he said.

The President’s message comes as the Warriors regroup following their first defeat of the campaign, with Zimbabwe remaining on three points in Group E after their opening victory over Sierra Leone, while DRC moved to six points following successive wins over Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe.

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