Zimbabwe Exited from CHAN 2016 After Group Stage Defeats
Zimbabwe’s hopes of progressing in the 2016 African Nations Championship ended before the final Group D matches. The Warriors suffered consecutive defeats, losing to Zambia on the opening day and falling 1-0 to Mali on Saturday, sealing their elimination from the tournament.
Following the defeat to Mali, coach Callisto Pasuwa cited the inexperience of his young squad as a key factor behind their disappointing campaign. “We didn’t take advantage of the good opportunities we created. Mali had a free kick and they scored. In this kind of tournament, there’s no point in finding openings if you’re not able to convert them,” Pasuwa explained to CAF.
He acknowledged the positive aspects of his team’s performance but stressed the need for further development. “I think we really bothered our opponents, but we still lack experience. My players have an average age of 23. We still need to work. This team has great potential. Give us a little more time,” he added.
Zimbabwe’s final group match against Uganda will now be a formality, with the Warriors already eliminated from contention. Despite the early exit, Pasuwa remains optimistic about the squad’s future, highlighting the promise of the young players and the need for continued growth ahead of future tournaments.
With two defeats from two matches, Zimbabwe leaves Group D at the bottom of the standings, while Mali and Zambia move closer to securing their spots in the quarter-finals. The Warriors’ campaign, though brief, offered valuable experience for the young squad as they look to build for upcoming competitions.
