Johnson Progress

Zimbabwe’s national football team, the Warriors, ended their 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers campaign on a disappointing note, losing 1-0 to Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa.

The defeat saw Zimbabwe finish the Group C campaign without a single win, a stark contrast to the expectations of the team and its fans.

Coach Michael Nees made several changes to the lineup that faced South Africa on Friday, resting key players like captain Marvellous Nakamba and first-choice goalkeeper Washington Arubi. However, these changes failed to yield the desired results, with the team struggling to create clear chances throughout the match.

“The first half offered little excitement, with both sides struggling to create clear chances,” said a match report.

The Warriors had opportunities to score, but ultimately fell victim to their own inefficiency.

Daniel Msendami nearly made an impact in the 88th minute but missed a golden opportunity to put the Warriors ahead.

Meanwhile, Lesotho capitalized on the Warriors’ mistakes, scoring the decisive goal in the 93rd minute through Hlompho Kalake.

“Lesotho capitalised deep into stoppage time when Hlompho Kalake fired past Chipezeze in the 93rd minute to seal victory,” the match report noted.

The defeat piles more pressure on Coach Nees, who has managed just two wins, both against Namibia, since his appointment in July.

The Warriors’ poor performance has raised concerns about the team’s prospects in future tournaments.

With this loss, Zimbabwe finished the qualifiers with a dismal record of zero wins, five draws, and five losses.

The Warriors will now focus on preparing for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which is scheduled to take place in December.

However, the team’s performance in the World Cup qualifiers has raised concerns about their ability to make a strong showing in the tournament.