Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
WARRIORS’ assistant coach David Mandigora believes continuity and better preparations will be key for Zimbabwe’s success in the forthcoming African Cup of Nations final qualifier. Zimbabwe beat Burundi 1-0 at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday to wipe out a 2-1 deficit from the first leg of the preliminary round in Bujumbura.
Chief striker Knowledge Musona scored the priceless goal,
“Obviously, we are all very happy with the win. We had been expecting to win after creating many chances in the last two matches.
“It’s only that in the previous games, we failed to find the back of the net but we had been playing well
“There is need to move forward in preparing this team and I hope that we will have some continuity.
“I think we started off well but it got very difficult for us when Willard received a red card,” said Mandigora.
Katsande was expelled in the 29th minute for head butting Burundi player Emeri Nibumana in an off the ball incident.
Katsande will now miss the next two matches.
The former Dynamos coach said the Warriors were ready for any team in the next round.
The 16 teams which played at the Nations Cup finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon in February will now be thrown into the hat along the teams that qualify from the preliminary.    
“We are prepared for any team that we might be paired against.
“I think we just need to have adequate preparations and I am sure we can make it,” said Mandigora.
Zifa failed to organise an international friendly during the three weeks the Warriors were in camp and the best they could do was a match against Friends of Benjani in a testimonial match for Benjani Mwaruwari on May 26.
At one time Zimbabwe were locked out of their training venue at the National Sports Stadium ahead of their World Cup game in Maputo.
The Warriors were also locked         out of their rooms at a hotel they  had been staying while they had a nightmarish trip to Maputo as they only secured air-tickets at the last minute.