Warriors suffer heartbreak
Kenya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 3 Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1 ZIMBABWE coach Norman Mapeza was redcarded as the Warriors ended their campaign at the inaugural Four Nations tournament in a disappointing fashion against Kenya in the final played at Bingu National Stadium in Malawi yesterday.
Kenya captain Michael Olunga, who plays as a striker for Qatar Stars League club Al-Duhail, scored a hat-trick on his 30th birthday to turn around the game after Zimbabwe had taken an early lead following an own goal by the Harambee Stars defender Joseph Okumu.
The game, however, had its fair share of controversy which saw both teams finishing with 10 men.
Warriors defender Teenage Hadebe was the fall guy in the Zimbabwe side following a second bookable offence in the 56th minute when the teams were still level 1-1.
It became a 10-aside affair after midfielder Richard Odada was shown a second yellow for a second bookable offence following a rough challenge on Daniel Musendami in the 72nd minute, shortly after Olunga had put his side in front.
Zimbabwe, who beat Zambia in a penalty shoot-out in the semi-final had looked comfortable for most of the first half.
Mapeza made just one change from the team that beat Zambia in the semi-finals with Junior Makunike coming in for Jordan Zemura.
The Warriors took the lead with under four minutes played after Tino Kadewere made a good run down the right channel and delivered a low cross that was pushed into the nets by the sliding defender Okumu, under pressure from Macauley Bonne.
Kadewere then tested Kenya’s veteran goalkeeper Patrick Matasi with a long-range effort that was parried out for the first corner kick of the evening, with just eight minutes played.
Kenya almost hit back early in the first half but winger Ayub Masika just sent his effort wide after Zimbabwe goalkeeper Donovan Bernard had strayed away from his goal line.
The Harambee Stars were still able to beat the half-time whistle to level the scoreline when their captain Olunga out-jumped the Zimbabwean defenders to plant a header past Donovan Bernard from a cross by Masika.
Malawian referee Godfrey Nkhakananga, who last year was suspended for four months by the Malawian Football authorities for failing to control the Airtel Top 8 Cup quarter-final tie between Silver Strikers and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, almost lost control of the match soon after the restart.
Nkhakananga was given a real test following an altercation between players leading to Warriors coach Mapeza being shown a red card in the 54th minute after he had stormed the pitch and joined his players in appealing for a penalty.
The Kenyan players also mobbed the referee unhappy with the challenge by Junior Makunike on one of their teammates.
With tempers still high, Warriors defender Hadebe was also given his marching orders soon after the unfortunate incident for remonstrating with the referee.
Hadebe, who had been cautioned in the sixth minute, was shown a second yellow card when confronting the referee after he had blown for an infringement by Marshal Munetsi.
Kenya took advantage of the numerical advantage and punished Zimbabwe shortly after with a well-struck effort by their captain Olunga.
Goalkeeper Bernard failed to deal cleanly with a cross from the right when he punched the ball back into play and it fell onto the path of the big Kenyan forward, who made no mistake in the 62nd minute. Olunga killed off any hopes of a comeback by Zimbabwe with a left-footed volley from outside the box, that saw goalkeeper Bernard crashing into the upright post in a desperate attempt to stop the thunderbolt.
The Kenyans, who began the tournament with a 4-0 thrashing of hosts Malawi, walked home and deserved winners of the inaugural tournament while Zimbabwe got silver medals.
Zambia landed bronze after edging hosts Malawi 2-1 in the third-place play-off that was played earlier at the same venue.
The tournament was part of the teams’ preparations for the upcoming FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Teams:
Zimbabwe: D. Bernard, M. Garan’anga, G. Takwara, T. Hadebe Marshall Munetsi, Andy Rinomhota (J. Phuthi, 90th minute), Junior Makunike (B. Galloway, 64th minute), Walter Musona (S. Maroodza, 90th minute), Daniel Msendami, Tinotenda Kadewere, Macaulay Bonne (T. Chirewa, 77th minute)
Kenya: Patrick Matasi, Johnstone Omurwa, Joseph Okumu, Daniel Anyembe (O. Nondi, 70th minute), Vincent Mahiga (C. Sichenje, 90th minute), Anthony Akumu, Richard Odada, Chrispine Erambo (M. Mugambi, 26th minute), Rooney Onyango (J. Avire, 90th minute), Ayub Masika (K. Otieno, 90th minute), Michael Olunga