Zimbabwean players have been inspired by Bafana Bafana's heroics at the Africa Cup of Nations and believe doors could be opening up for them ahead of the resumption of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Bafana's third-place finish at the Afcon, for the first time since 2000, did not only hoist the flag of South Africa but was a major boost to how Southern African football is perceived, according to SuperSport United defender Onismor Bhasera.
The Warriors were in the same Afcon qualifying group as Bafana but they did not participate after they were banned by FIFA for alleged government interference.
However, Zimbabwe's 18-month ban was lifted in July last year as they were drawn in the same 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group as South Africa again.
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Bhasera says not playing Afcon would not affect them that much and that the Warriors are motivated to showcase Southern African football after Bafana's podium finish at the Afcon.
"I think we'll quickly gel, I think you saw in our last World Cup qualifiers the guys did very well in that short space of time, so I'm very happy. In terms of players and quality, I think we have a pool of quality players," Bhasera told journalists in the Nedbank Cup last 16 draw.
"And the guys have been eager, waiting for international football and when everyone gets the opportunity, it's a very good thing to go out there and represent your country.
"What Bafana just did, everyone now is expecting Southern African football to start (booming), to recognize us maybe. I had a couple of guys, who (were surprised), they did not expect that quality. Bafana Bafana proved them wrong, that's also Zimbabwe," he said.
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Zimbabwe, who are just a point behind Bafana in the World Cup qualifying group, will meet Hugo Broos' charges when the qualifiers resume in June.
"It's not gonna be easy, it's gonna be a tough match in a kind of a Southern African derby, so I'm looking forward to it," he added.
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