The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has apologised to the nation for the Warriors’ elimination from the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after three defeats in a row including back-to-back losses to Ghana in the last two games.
In a statement on Wednesday, ZIFA said it took full responsibility for the Warriors’ failure to progress to the elimination stage of the World Cup qualifiers irrespective of “several impediments that further complicated the journey”. The statement read in part:
ZIFA sincerely apologises to all football stakeholders for the senior national team’s back-to-back losses to Ghana and elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers.
We fully understand the disappointment that comes with every unfavourable result from national teams because we know just how much Zimbabweans love and support their team.
The football governing body said in spite of the elimination, it believes that positive results will come soon because “we are confident that the technical team and players have what it takes to beat the best teams on the continent on a good day”.
ZIFA said the final two World Cup qualifiers will be used to prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.