Footballer Devine Lunga Faces Backlash after Celebrating With South African Players Following Warriors’ AFCON Exit

Footballer Devine Lunga Faces Backlash after Celebrating With South African Players Following Warriors’ AFCON Exit – Zimbabwe Warriors defender Devine Lunga has found himself at the centre of a storm after video footage emerged showing him celebrating with South African players following Zimbabwe’s 3–2 defeat to Bafana Bafana at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The loss confirmed Zimbabwe’s elimination from the tournament, ending what had been a spirited but ultimately disappointing campaign for the Warriors.

Lunga endured a difficult match, scoring an own goal and also being involved in South Africa’s second goal, incidents that significantly influenced the outcome of the encounter.

His performance quickly drew criticism from fans, but it was his actions after the final whistle that sparked widespread outrage.

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In clips circulating on social media, the Mamelodi Sundowns left-back is seen sharing celebratory moments with South African players, many of whom are his club teammates.

While some viewed the interaction as a reflection of professional camaraderie, a large section of Zimbabwean supporters interpreted it as a sign of disloyalty and a lack of sensitivity following the Warriors’ painful exit.

“Losing for your country and then celebrating with the opposition is unacceptable,” one fan wrote on social media.

Neither Lunga nor the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) had issued an official statement at the time of publication.