Former Zimbabwe international Tapuwa Kapini has blamed Zifa for the Warriors’ failure to perform well at the 2019 Afcon tournament.

The national team registered their worst record at the tournament where they managed just one point.

Their 4-0 defeat against DRC in the last game of Group A followed after a heated standoff which saw Zifa threatening to withdraw from the competition. The association had failed to agree to the demands of the players who wanted all their outstanding monies to be cleared before the game.

Speaking on Front Runner Sports TV, Kapini believes Zifa should have prepared well for this tournament.

“This thing of Zifa not playing the players is bringing the issue that the players don’t want to perform. They want to perform and if everything is in order, I think the team would do well,” Kapini said.

“If you look at the teams that had everything in order, they did well. The other sides who faced money issues with their associations – Uganda, for example, refused to train and lost their match (against Senegal).”

The Highlands Park captain also expressed his disappointment in Warriors’ first choice George Chigova.

The goalkeeper pulled out of the team a few minutes before the kick-off against DRC due to a hamstring injury. Elvis Chipezeze took his place and his performance was subpar.

“There are some games I play while injured because I don’t want to bring pressure to these boys.

“I think it was unnecessary for Chigova to pull out and give Chipezeze a sudden chance to play in the match. I sympathize with Elvis, it’s part of the game,” said Kapini.

The Warriors, meanwhile, return to action this weekend in the 2020 Chan qualifiers against Mauritius.