By Rainos Mukanya
The Warriors of Zimbabwe fought hard for a deserved goalless draw against highly rated Morocco in an African Nations Championship Group B encounter played at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.
Morocco dominated the first half, but their superiority yielded only a few shots from distance which failed to trouble George Chigova in goals for Zimbabwe. The closest they came was in the 8th minute when a curling shot from Bahri El Brahim was tipped over by Chigova.
The Warriors began to find their feet in the last fifteen minutes of the half in which Donald Nkoma missed two clear chances. First, he drove a header over the bar having rose majestically above a static defence to meet a corner from the right, then he failed connect a Kuda Mahachi cross with the keeper at his mercy to end the half on a stalemate.
The second half belonged to Zimbabwe with the introduction of Tawanda Muparati for Pasca Manhanga bringing the much needed urgency. Yet the Warriors had to wait for the 64th minute for their and arguably the best chance of the match. A cross from the right fell for Simba Sithole who beat the keeper only to be denied by the woodwork with the keeper parrying Ali Sadiki’s rebound effort for corner.
For the Warriors a point against Morocco who fielded 5 Raja Casablanca players, is not a meagre return and the Warriors should now fancy themselves against the Cranes of Uganda whom they meet on Thursday.
The Ugandans were the real winners as they now lead Group B following a 2-1 win over the stallions of Burkina Faso. The cranes got their goals courtesy of a brace by 19 year old striker Yunus Sentamu while the Stallions scored a consolation through Cyril Bayala in the 88th minute.
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