Warriors captain Marvelous Nakamba framed the moment which gifted South Africa a penalty at the AFCON finals as both personal and national, expressing deep regret over letting Zimbabweans down.
He stressed that every performance at club level is driven by a desire to make the country proud, which made the disappointment cut deeper.
Nakamba offered an unreserved apology, acknowledging the emotional toll of the outcome and admitting that the weight of responsibility has affected him mentally, underscoring how elite athletes internalise setbacks that extend beyond the pitch.
“I should have done better in dealing with my situation. I have let everyone down. My country, my people and my family. I am really sorry to all of you,” he told The Herald.
“I am heartbroken. If there are people that I never want to let down, then it should be Zimbabweans. Even when I play club football, I play there to make Zimbabweans proud. And these are the same people that I have disappointed today.
I am really sorry. I don’t know how to express this, but I am slowly sliding into depression with what I have just caused.”
During Zimbabwe’s AFCON group-stage match against South Africa, the game was level and tightly contested late on. In the closing stages of the match, Marvelous Nakamba conceded a penalty inside the box after a defensive challenge.
South Africa converted the spot kick late in the second half, a decisive moment that swung the match in Bafana Bafana’s favour and ultimately sealed Zimbabwe’s defeat. The goal came near the end of regulation time, leaving the Warriors with little opportunity to respond.
The penalty proved costly not only on the scoreboard but emotionally, with Nakamba later expressing deep remorse and distress over the mistake, saying he felt he had let the nation down.
