Zimbabwe 2-2 Algeria
HARARE – Prince Dube scored eight minutes from full time as Zimbabwe clawed back a two-goal deficit to draw with African champions Algeria at the National Sports Stadium on Monday.
Zimbabwe were comprehensively beaten 3-1 in Algeria last week, and they would have feared another hammering was on the cards when the visitors struck twice in four minutes as half time approached.
The visitors were ahead when Andy Delort found himself unmarked from an in-swinging cross from the right. His bullet header arrowed past Talbert Shumba, who started in the absence of the injured Elvis Chipezeze.
On 38 minutes, Riyad Mahrez brilliantly brought a cross-field pass under his spell, his first touch getting him closer to Shumba’s goal as Adam Chicksen scrambled to cover. Mahrez sent Chicksen right and then left, and right again. The Notts County defender had picked himself off the floor by the time Mahrez fired past Shumba.
Musona was denied by the crossbar from a freekick in the 41st minute as Zimbabwe looked for a quick reply.
A minute later, however, there was no denying the captain who found the top corner with an angled freekick just outside Rais Mbolhi’s area.
Zimbabwe believed.
Warriors coach Zdravko Logarušić had already shown he is not afraid to make tough calls with his changed line-up from last week’s beaten side, and he rang the changes at the start of the second half. Out went David Moyo, Chicksen, Tafadzwa Rusike and Jordan Zemura and he threw in Khama Biliat, Ovidy Karuru, Kudakwashe Mahachi and Devine Lunga after CAF last week indicated that five substitutes will be allowed during this round of matches.
Tino Kadewere came close twice, first being denied by a point blank save by Mbolhi before his shot from inside the box rolled just wide.
Needing a goal, Logarušić knew he needed a goalscorer and he turned to Prince Dube, who has been banging them at will for Azam FC in Tanzania.
Dube replaced right back Tendayi Darikwa in the 81st minute as Algeria prepared to defender a corner. From the corner, the ball fell invitingly for Dube at the far post and his shot went in via Mbolhi who appeared to have had it covered only to see it slip through his fingers and over the line.
“It was a big point for us today, but I feel we deserved more,” Darikwa reflected after the match. “There are lessons to learn from today’s game, but I’m proud of everyone.”
Botswana beat Zambia 1-0 in Francistown in the other Group H match in the race to qualify for the 2021 Total Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Cameroon.
With 10 points from four matches, Algeria have already qualified heading into the final two matches to be played during the next international break in March.
Zimbabwe’s next fixture away to Botswana now appears set to decide who joins Algeria in Cameroon.
The Warriors have five points trailed by Botswana with four and Zambia, who play Algeria next, with three.