Garananga and Antonio Lead Zimbabwe to Long-Awaited Win Over Qatar

The Zimbabwe senior men’s football team ended a painful 13-month winless run on Monday after beating Qatar 2–1 in an international friendly played at the Abdulla Bin Khalifa Stadium.

The Warriors, who last tasted victory in October 2024 against Namibia, mounted an impressive comeback after conceding early in the first half.

Qatar capitalised on a defensive lapse to take the lead, putting Zimbabwe under immediate pressure.

However, the response from the visitors was swift. Defender Munashe Garananga headed home the equaliser before the break, calming nerves on the Zimbabwean bench and restoring belief in a team desperate for momentum ahead of future continental assignments.

The match turned in Zimbabwe’s favour in the 74th minute when Bill Antonio, introduced as a second-half substitute, produced a clinical finish to give the Warriors a decisive 2–1 lead.

His impact proved crucial as the hosts struggled to break down a more organised Zimbabwean defence in the final stages.

The result marks Zimbabwe’s first win in more than a year and offers head coach Marian “Mario” Marinica a much-needed confidence boost as he continues rebuilding the squad following a prolonged period of inconsistency.