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Warriors Afcon charge gets injury boost

Local News
Zimbabwe host Kenya at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa on Friday before facing off with Cameroon in Yaounde on Tuesday.

DEFENDER Munashe Garananga has been declared fit and is available for the Warriors' final two Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group J qualifiers against Kenya and Cameroon.

Zimbabwe host Kenya at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa on Friday before facing off with Cameroon in Yaounde on Tuesday.

There were fears that the Denmark-based star would be sidelined for the two matches after he missed his club Copenhagen's weekend game.

The lanky defender who has just returned from a long-term injury, which forced him out of the Warriors' back-to-back matches against Namibia last month, was not in the matchday squad as Copenhagen forced a share of points in a 1-1 draw away at log leaders AGF in the top-of-the-table clash on Sunday.

Prior to that, the former Prince Edward student had either played or been included in the matchday squad in the previous five matches, including UEFA Conference League games against Real Betis and Istanbul Basaksehir.

Zifa spokesperson Mike Madoda yesterday confirmed that Garananga is available for the two crucial Group J matches.

He is expected to be part of the last batch of Warriors players to arrive in camp at their Polokwane base this morning.

The other players expected today are France-based and the team’s vice captain Marshall Munetsi, US-based Teenage Hadebe, Gerald Takwara who is based in Iraq and Jordan Zemura of Udinese in the Serie A.

The first batch of the Warriors squad, made up of the locally based players and their technical team, arrived in South Africa on Sunday.

England and South Africa-based players plus Khama Billiat were all received in Polokwane yesterday.

From the squad that was announced by coach Michael Nees last week, only Tino Kadewere has been ruled out of the two matches due to an injury.

Zimbabwe are at home against  Kenya in South Africa because the country does not have a Caf-certified stadium to host international matches.

Nees' men are second in Group J with eight points and only need to garner a point against Kenya to secure their ticket to the finals set for Morocco next year.

Should they falter against the Harambee Stars, the Warriors will have to beat group leaders and already qualified Cameroon to make sure of progress.

Kenya have four points and need a perfect record in their final two matches against Zimbabwe and Namibia to clinch their ticket to the finals.

Cameroon are on 10 points while Namibia have zero and are out of the race.

Warriors squad

Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford), Martin Mapisa

(Dynamos)

Defenders: Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns), Gerald Takwara (Al Minaa SC), Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen), Godknows Murwira (Caps United), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Teenage Hadebe (FC Cincinnati), Jordan Zemura (Udinese).

Midfielders: Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town), Marshall Munetsi (Stade de Reims), Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff City), Richard Hachiro (Ngezi Platinum)

Forwards: Khama Billiat (Yadah FC), Tymon Machope (Simba Bhora), Prince Dube (Young Africans), Terrence Dzvukamanja (Supersport United), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell), Daniel Msendami (Marumo Gallants), Walter Musona (Simba Bhora), Douglas Mapfumo (Polokwane City).

 

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