Asiagate?: Warriors brace for Qatar

Zimbabwe's senior men's football team is aiming to bounce back from a 3-1 loss to Algeria when they take on Qatar in an international friendly on Monday. The match marks the first-ever meeting between the two sides and comes amid growing pressure on the Warriors to end their year-long winless streak.

The fixture also places new coach Marian Marinica under scrutiny following allegations of unprofessional conduct in the camp. Reports indicate that a player lodged a formal complaint with the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) regarding the coach's behavior, further intensifying attention on the team's preparations.

Despite the off-field distractions, team captain Marvellous Nakamba expressed confidence ahead of the encounter. 

"We are pushing each other; it's all about implementing what the new technical staff is teaching us. As you know, we are professionals; we know what we have to do," Nakamba said. "It's a friendly game, but we will give everything for the nation, and we must not forget that we are preparing for AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations)."

Monday's friendly will be Marinica's second match in charge, following his appointment as head coach after the dismissal of Michael Nees last month, who was relieved of his duties due to a string of disappointing results. The Warriors will be looking to use the match as a chance to regain confidence and build momentum ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations finals.