Like someone trying not to get too excited about a Christmas gift they’ve waited years for, Macauley Bonne is doing his best to stay grounded.
It is not easy. Only a short while ago, the 30-year-old striker was playing eighth-tier football in England with Maldon & Tiptree. Now, after travelling more than 2,000 miles to Morocco, he is preparing to represent Zimbabwe at the Africa Cup of Nations, the biggest tournament of his international career.
For Bonne, the moment has been a long time coming. Born in England to Zimbabwean parents, he made his debut for the Warriors 11 years ago and scored on his first appearance. But football has a way of testing patience. Since that debut, opportunities at international level have been few and far between, with only four more caps spread over more than a decade.
So when the call finally came, the emotions caught up with him.
“I was quite emotional,” he admitted. “The last few years haven’t been easy. I missed out on camps, missed out on call-ups. Then a new manager comes in, knows who I am, wants to change things, it really hit me. There were a few tears. I was overwhelmed.”
Zimbabwe’s presence at this tournament has its own backstory. In 2022, the country was banned from international football after Fifa ruled there had been government interference in the running of the game. The suspension was lifted a year later, but the damage was done — Zimbabwe missed the previous Africa Cup of Nations.
This time, they fought their way back. A strong qualifying campaign saw them finish second behind Cameroon, earning a place at Afcon and a tough group that includes seven-time champions Egypt, South Africa and Angola.
Their opening match, against Egypt in Agadir, will be a serious test. It could also see Bonne lining up against global stars like Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, players he has watched for years.
“Everyone keeps asking me, ‘Are you playing Salah? Are you playing Marmoush?’” Bonne said. “But once you’re on that pitch, you’re there to win. They’re just players on the same field as me. I can’t let any of that distract me.”
The timing makes it even more personal. The tournament means spending Christmas away from home, separated from his wife, his children and even his dogs. But there is no sense of regret, only determination.
“I’ll be away from my family at Christmas, so this isn’t a holiday for me,” he said. “I’ve got to be serious. I’ve got to give everything. Opportunities like this don’t come around often.”
From non-league pitches in England to Africa’s biggest football stage, Bonne’s journey has been anything but straightforward. Yet standing on the brink of the Africa Cup of Nations, it feels like a quiet reward for persistence, patience and belief.
For him, this is more than football. It is pride, redemption and a chance to finally live a moment he has waited for most of his career.
