By Marshall Bwanya
HARARE — Yoane Wissa ruined Zimbabwe’s long-awaited homecoming as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) claimed a 2-1 victory in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
The Newcastle United striker struck in the 30th minute before turning provider for Samuel Moutoussamy, who doubled DR Congo’s advantage in first-half stoppage time.
Zimbabwe had been playing a competitive home international at the Harare stadium for the first time since November 2021 after the venue was ruled unsuitable for international fixtures and underwent lengthy renovations.
A costly goalkeeping error handed Wissa the opener when Elvis Chipezeze failed to hold a cross, allowing the 30-year-old forward to poke the loose ball into the net.
DRC then struck again deep into first-half added time, with Wissa threading a pass through to Moutoussamy, who finished to put the visitors 2-0 up.
Wissa came close to completing a hat-trick for DRC after his first-half effort beat Chipezeze but rolled narrowly wide, before he hit the woodwork shortly after the hour mark.
Divine Lunga of Mamelodi Sundowns and Emmanuel Jalai of Scottland FC changed the tide after coming on as second-half substitutes, strengthening Zimbabwe’s defence while adding greater width and urgency to the attack.
Their introduction helped the Warriors dominate after the interval, as Zimbabwe improved significantly and eventually pulled one back through Marshall Munetsi in the 93rd minute.
The goal was Munetsi’s third in two matches after he scored twice in Zimbabwe’s dramatic 3-2 away victory over Sierra Leone the previous week.
Despite the defeat, the occasion marked Zimbabwe’s return to competitive international football on home soil, with the newly renovated National Sports Stadium now configured with 35,000 seats following the installation of bucket seats.
DR Congo, who lost to England in the last 32 of the 2026 World Cup, sit top of Group E with six points from two matches after also beating Equatorial Guinea 2-0 in their opening fixture.
The Warriors remain on three points alongside Equatorial Guinea, while Sierra Leone are yet to register a point.
Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea are due to meet twice in November with Warriors gaffer Ramon Catala eyeing to collect maximum points.
