Sports Correspondent
Warriors captain Marvelous Nakamba has revealed how coach Ramon Catala’s halftime intervention helped inspire Zimbabwe’s dramatic comeback victory over Sierra Leone in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Warriors went into the halftime break trailing 2-0 but produced a stunning second-half turnaround to secure a 3-2 victory and collect maximum points.
According to Nakamba, Catala urged the players to maintain their belief and trust the tactical approach he had given them before the match.
“At halftime he spoke with the team to believe in ourselves, to believe in his philosophy also and to keep on doing the things that he told us,” Nakamba said.
The midfielder said the coach also demanded quicker ball movement and greater control of possession as Zimbabwe sought a way back into the contest.
“So, we just had to move the ball a little bit quicker and keep the possession. The more we dominate with the possession, the more we can have the chance to win a game,” he said.
The Warriors responded to the instructions after the break, turning the match on its head to complete a memorable 3-2 comeback.
The victory handed Zimbabwe three valuable points in Group E and provided a major boost to their campaign.
Zimbabwe now turn their attention to their next qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo at the National Sports Stadium on Monday.
The Warriors will be looking to build on the momentum generated by their comeback against Sierra Leone as they continue their Group E campaign.
