Zimbabwe warriors lose to Tanzania
The Zimbabwe national team fell to a 1-0 defeat to Tanzania in the preliminary round of the first leg of the African Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Sports Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam on Sunday.
John Rapheal Bocco, who plays for Tanzanian side Anzam FC, beat Warriors defender Eric Chipeta to score their all-important goal in the first quarter of the match.
A lot had been expected of Zimbabwe, who had forced a draw in their last visit to East Africa in a friendly match in November last year.
Zimbabwe now hope to salvage the campaign when they host the Taifa Stars in the return leg in two weeks time.
Zimbabwe failed to come to the party and African Nations Championship poster boy Kuda Mahachi rarely saw action with the ball while Bocco could have increased the lead after 47th minutes but shot over the bar.
In a bid to rescue the game, Zimbabwe coach Ian Gorowa played with three strikers in the second half with substitute Kuda Musharu, Cuthbert Malajila and Tendai Ndoro all searching for goals. Musharu came in the 57th minute for Peter Moyo while Ndoro had an effort disallowed for offside.
Meanwhile in the local matches, CAPS United finally managed to beat Dynamos for the first time, since March 2009 when they won the Zimbabwe National Army Charities Shield semi-final at the National Sports Stadium.
Dominic Mukandi scored in the 37th minute to give CAPS United a 1-0 win and they will meet FC Platinum in the final. FC Platinum beat Highlanders 3-2 in the other semi-final at Barbourfields. The Herald
