Warriors lose to Botswana in Gaborone friendly

Zim Now Writer

The Warriors lost 4-3 to the Zebras of Botswana after a penalty shootout in an Invitational Independence Cup friendly match played in Botswana.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw during regular time, with Zimbabwe taking the lead through Obriel Chirinda in the 66th minute.

Botswana equalised a minute later through Lemogang Maswena.

During the shootout, the Warriors missed two penalties, while Botswana missed one, giving them the victory.

The match was the first overseen by the newly-appointed Warriors coach, Baltemar Brito. Despite the loss, Brito expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, praising their technical skills and quick adaptation to tactics. He remained optimistic about the future saying he would not read much into the loss.

This match was significant for Zimbabwe as it marked their second match after returning to international football after Fifa suspended the country in February 2022. The ban was lifted in July this year.

The first match upon their return was against Namibia on September 4th, coinciding with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. The Warriors emerged victorious in a penalty shootout.

The matches are part of the Warriors’ preparation for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers scheduled for November.

Only locally-based players were called up for national duty in both games.