Commando sees positives despite Warriors' Afcon group-stage exit

Former Warriors captain Dumisani "Commando" Mpofu says Zimbabwe can take encouragement from its Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) campaign despite an early group-stage exit at the tournament currently underway in Morocco.

The Warriors returned home with a single point after a draw against Angola and defeats to Egypt (2–1) and South Africa (3–2). While the results were disappointing, Mpofu believes the team showed enough promise to form a solid foundation for the future.

"The team played very well, although mistakes were made here and there. As a former player, I know mistakes are part of the game. Let's not persecute those who slipped up," Mpofu said.

"The team is good; we finally have a foundation to start from. We saw the true capabilities of players such as Jonah Fabisch, Tawanda Maswanhise, Gerald Takwara, Tawanda Chirewa and Munashe Garananga."

Mpofu also came to the defence of head coach Marian "Mario" Marinica, citing the limited time available to prepare the squad.

"Coach Marinica was appointed just a month before the tournament. He and Kaitano Tembo did well under the circumstances. They simply need more time for the team to gel," he said.

The former man-marking defender urged the technical team to prioritise continuity, warning against hasty changes that could derail progress.

"The future looks very bright. We have a quality midfielder in Jonah Fabisch, who I believe would pair well with players such as Abubakar Moffat," Mpofu said. "My wish is that we don't disrupt the team's progress. We still need veterans, including Knowledge Musona, to guide the youngsters. The national team is a different level; it isn't a place for constant experimentation."

Mpofu also called on the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) to be more transparent, particularly regarding the absence of star midfielder Marshall Munetsi.

"Everyone is worried about what happened with Marshall. He is our best player at the moment and his presence was sorely missed, especially against South Africa — a game we could have won," he said. "Zifa should not rely on hearsay. While the leadership is new, they must adjust quickly for the betterment of the game."

The 51-year-old further encouraged greater corporate involvement in football, noting that official sponsor Ecobank came on board only weeks before the tournament. He praised President Emmerson Mnangagwa's US$400 000 donation as a major morale booster and urged Zifa to strengthen cooperation with Sports minister Anselem Sanyatwe.

Looking ahead, Mpofu suggested reinforcing the technical setup rather than overhauling it.

"If resources permit, we should beef up the bench by including figures such as Norman Mapeza, Peter Ndlovu, Joel Luphahla or Genesis Mangombe. It's about working for the country," he said.

"We need to test ourselves against tough opponents such as Burkina Faso, Cameroon or Algeria, rather than just regional neighbours. That is how this combination of players will truly grow."