Zimbabwe Senior Men’s National football team, the Warriors destroyed the Taifa Stars of Tanzania 3-0 in an international friendly played at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The victory was a morale booster for the Warriors as they prepare for the Total Africa Cup Of Nations Finals in Gabon next year.  

Mathew Rusike scored a gem of a goal in between strikes by Knowledge Musona and Nyasha Mushekwi.

Despite scoring the three goals, Zimbabwe was far from convincing in the first half, where they were disjointed and slow to the ball. 

It was the visitors who showed cohesion particularly towards the end of the first half but found Zimbabwe goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva unyielding. 

Mukuruva was called into action as early as the 10th minute when he went airborne to tip over the bar a header from Tanzanian top striker Mbwana Samata. 

Mukuruva used his leg moments later to push back into play an effort from Samata.

Zimbabwe were the first to settle with Musona getting the opener on the 9th minute tapping in after Nyasha Mushekwi headed into his path a hook from left back Onisimo Bhasera.  

Rusike doubled the lead a few minutes into the second half with a rising shot from just outside the box after an exchange of passes involving Musona, Mushekwi and Kuda Mahachi. 

Mushekwi then headed in the third from a Musona cross two minutes later to make it three for the Warriors. 

Fans favourite Khama Billiat was introduced just after the hour mark for the impressive Rusike while Ndoro came in for the other scorer Mushekwi.

Zimbabwe coach Callisto Pasuwa made a number of changes later in the game introducing Sweden based Tinotenda Kadewere for Musona while Kuda Mahachi made way for Cuthbert Malajila with Bruce Kangwa replacing Onismor Bhasera and Hardlife Zvirkewi was replaced by Oscar Machapa.

The last time the two nations met was in 2015 with Tanzania knocking Zimbabwe out of the AFCON 2015 in the preliminary qualifying round as the two teams drew 2-2 at the National Sports Stadium following a 1-0 win for the Taifa stars in Tanzania.