By Milton Marima
Yoane Wissa, the Newcastle United forward, spoiled a homecoming party as he scored one and made an assist as DRC beat Zimbabwe 2-1 at the newly renovated National Sports Stadium yesterday.
In front of over 30 thousand fans, including President Mnangagwa, the Leopards, 89 places higher in the FIFA rankings and fresh from a last-32 finish at the 2026 World Cup, controlled the first half. In the 30th minute, Elvis Chipezeze let a cross slip from his grasp, and Yoane Wissa poked it in. Then, in first-half added time, Wissa turned the provider to send Samuel Moutoussamy through for 2-0.
Wissa nearly had a hat-trick, hitting the woodwork and seeing another shot trickle wide. Zimbabwe Warriors, who came in high spirit after that 3-2 comeback over Sierra Leone, improved after the break but couldn’t break through until the 93rd minute when Marshall Munetsi scored his third goal in two qualifiers to make it 1-2.
The final results were Zimbabwe 1-2 DR Congo. DRC top Group E with 6 points, Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea on 3, Sierra Leone on 0.
