Zimbabwe Coach: We Have a Crisis Before Facing Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations
Zimbabwe coach reveals a crisis before facing Egypt in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
SUMMARY
Zimbabwe national team coach Mario Marinica outlines the challenges facing the team before their match against Egypt in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, highlighting the lack of friendly matches and few professional players, while emphasizing the importance of competing and achieving a milestone.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Zimbabwe national team has not played friendly matches this month, affecting preparations.
- Marinica emphasizes the goal is to compete and achieve an unprecedented accomplishment.
- The Egypt vs. Zimbabwe match will take place on December 22 as part of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
CORE SUBJECT
Preparatory challenges for Zimbabwe national team before facing Egypt in Africa Cup of Nations
Romanian head coach Mario Marinica of the Zimbabwe national team revealed difficulties the team is facing ahead of their match against Egypt in the first round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Zimbabwe is participating in Group B alongside Egypt, Angola, and South Africa in the tournament scheduled from December 21 to January 18.
Marinica explained in statements to the Zimbabwean newspaper Newsday that the team has not played any friendly matches this month, relying only on local training sessions without the European-based players, which affected the team's preparations. He said: "We have a crisis before facing Egypt.. we did not assemble as planned on December 8, and we only have some local players and professionals in South Africa, and we will meet almost only 10 players in Morocco, with just one training session before the match."
The coach confirmed that the goal is not just participation but strong competition in the tournament, adding: "I believe the Zimbabwe team is capable of achieving an unprecedented accomplishment, but we must move quickly and set a clear strategy, and players must understand their responsibilities in every match."
Marinica concluded his remarks by calling on his country's fans for support, saying: "Let us focus together to achieve what we aspire to, and we will give 100% of what we can on the field."
Zimbabwe is scheduled to face Egypt next Monday, December 22, in the first group stage match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
KEYWORDS
MENTIONED ENTITIES 5
Mario Marinica
👤 Person_MaleRomanian head coach of the Zimbabwe national football team
Zimbabwe national team
Sports_TeamZimbabwe national football team
Egypt national team
Sports_TeamEgypt national football team
2025 Africa Cup of Nations
EventAfrica Cup of Nations football tournament scheduled from December 21 to January 18, 2025
Newsday newspaper
🏛️ OrganizationZimbabwean newspaper that reported coach Marinica's statements
NOTABLE QUOTES 3
"We have a crisis before facing Egypt.. we did not assemble as planned on December 8, and we only have some local players and professionals in South Africa, and we will meet almost only 10 players in Morocco, with just one training session before the match."
Context: Coach's statements about Zimbabwe's preparations for the match against Egypt
"I believe the Zimbabwe team is capable of achieving an unprecedented accomplishment, but we must move quickly and set a clear strategy, and players must understand their responsibilities in every match."
Context: Coach's emphasis on the importance of competing and achieving a milestone in the tournament
"Let us focus together to achieve what we aspire to, and we will give 100% of what we can on the field."
Context: Coach's call to Zimbabwean fans to support the national team