The Zimbabwe Warriors are out of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) after falling 5-4 on penalties to a Namibian side that is inactive in domestic football.
The Warriors won the return leg 1-0 at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. The game was decided on penalties as Namibia scored a crucial goal back home resulting in tying the match 1-1.
Prince Dube scored for the Warriors coached by Sunday Chidzambwa, who was still bubbling with confidence after lifting the Confederation of Southern Africa Football Associations Cup in Swaziland a few weeks ago.
Devon Chafa, Milton Ncube, Praise Tonha and Dennis Dauda converted their penalties but goalkeeper Herbert Rusawo had his saved as all Namibians scored from the penalty spot.
Facebook threads and other media monitored from Washington indicated that Zimbabwe did not play well in the crucial match as they were almost outplayed by the Brave Warriors of Namibia, who has a good game plan.
According to the Namibian newspaper, the players performed above expectations as the domestic soccer league is in a shambles due to squabbles among football administrators.
Zimbabweans, who responded to a VOA Ndebele Facebook thread on the Warriors, condemned Chidzambwa for failing to chalk a win against the Brave Warriors of Namibia.
Sunday CHAN results in full: Zimbabwe 1-0 Namibia (Aggregate: 1-1, Pen: 4-5); Angola 3-2 Mauritius (Agg: 4-3); Burundi 0-0 Sudan; Ethiopia 3-0 Djibouti (Agg: 8-1); Lesotho 1-0 Comoros (Agg: 1-2); Mozambique 0-2 Madagascar (Agg: 2-4)