Zimbabwe open their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign on Monday evening at 8:00pm GMT with a daunting fixture against Egypt, and head coach Marian Mario Marinica has issued a clear-eyed assessment of the challenge facing his side as they prepare for their first step in the tournament.
Speaking on the eve of the Group-stage encounter, the Warriors’ coach underlined both the difficulty of the opposition and the broader competitiveness of the section Zimbabwe find themselves in.
Marinica was careful to frame the opening match as part of a wider journey rather than an isolated event, stressing that no team in the group can afford complacency.
“I believe the group is difficult and that all participants are playing to show their best and that all have a chance to qualify,” Marinica said, setting the tone for what he expects to be a tightly contested pool.
Zimbabwe arrive at the tournament determined to show resilience and ambition, and Marinica was keen to dispel any suggestion that his side would approach the competition defensively or without belief.
While acknowledging the stature of Egypt, the Romanian coach insisted his players have prepared with intent and confidence.
“We have prepared well to face Egypt and the other matches; we have players capable of creating surprises and destabilizing opposing teams,” Marinica added, pointing to a squad that believes it can compete rather than merely participate.
The immediate focus, however, is firmly on the Pharaohs.
Egypt’s reputation and attacking quality are well established, and Marinica made no attempt to downplay the difficulty of facing such a well-resourced and experienced opponent in a tournament opener.
Instead, he highlighted the importance of concentration, particularly in the early stages of the match.
“The match against Egypt will be difficult at the beginning, especially since they have players like Omar Marmoush, Mohamed Salah and Mostafa Mohamed, but we will give it our all to win,” Marinica said.
Those remarks reflect a balanced approach: respect for Egypt’s individual talent, combined with an insistence that Zimbabwe will compete with courage and intensity. For the Warriors, the opening fixture represents both a test of their preparation and an opportunity to set a tone for the remainder of the group stage.
Marinica’s comments also suggest an awareness of the psychological importance of the first match at a major tournament.
A strong performance, regardless of the final result, could reinforce belief within the squad and send a message to the other teams in the group that Zimbabwe are ready to challenge established hierarchies.
The coach’s measured but purposeful language captures a team intent on rewriting expectations.
Rather than framing the encounter as a mismatch, Marinica has positioned it as a demanding but meaningful contest, one in which discipline, preparation and collective effort will be decisive.
As Zimbabwe prepare to walk onto the pitch for their AFCON 2025 opener, the message from the technical area is clear: the challenge is significant, the opponent formidable, but the ambition remains intact.
The Warriors know the task ahead is tough, yet they are determined to approach it with belief, organisation and the conviction that they can make their presence felt from the very first whistle.
