It’s a big week for the Zimbabwe men's national team who face east African rivals Kenya, needing just a point to make a return to the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals at Peter Mokaba in Polokwane South Africa.
The match, scheduled for this Friday, will kickoff at 6pm and after that the team will fly to Cameroon for the final group game on November 19.
Hopes are that the Warriors would have already sealed a place at the 2025 Morocco Afcon finals by the time they face the Indomitable Lions.
It has been an impressive qualification campaign for the Michael Nees-coached side who are yet to lose a match in four attempts and have conceded just one goal.
Nees announced the squad for the two encounters on Thursday with France-based Tino Kadewere bouncing back after missing the first four matches due to injury.
Other notable inclusions include newly crowned local champions striker Tymon Machope, Dynamos fullback Emmanuel Jalai and defender Munashe Garananga, who missed the October international window due to injury.
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England-based forward Tawanda Chirewa is conspicuous by his absence as he is still nursing an injury.
The Zifa normalisation committee chairman Lincoln Mutasa believes that they have done enough to prepare and motivate the boys to deliver the ticket to the continental championships from the administrative side of things.
“From the administration side, our duty is always to make sure that we are well prepared and we are confident of what we have done to ensure that our boys are motivated to perform well and win the game. Now we leave it to the boys to make the nation proud by qualifying for Afcon,” Mutasa told this publication.
“Each time you go into a competition you go with the hope that you will qualify and win the match. So we are optimistic and we are wishing for the best. What you have to remember is that it’s not just about getting a draw and qualifying. We want to win the match as well and qualify in the process.”
The Warriors currently sit in second place on the Group J log standings with eight points from four matches, two behind Cameroon who have already qualified.
Kenya are third, four points behind Zimbabwe and have to win their last two matches to make it to Morocco 2025.
Bottom of the table is Namibia who have lost all the four matches they have played in this campaign.
An Afcon qualification will be a feather in the cap for the Zifa normalisation committee whose tenure of office runs out in January 2025.
Mutasa refused to take the glory should the Warriors make a return to the African Safari for the first time since 2021.
“We are all Zimbabwean and as a country we always want our teams to do well regardless of who is at the helm. It’s always about Zimbabwe and not individuals so I cannot see the normalisation committee wanting to take the glory if the team qualifies,” he said.
The team is expected to report for camp in Polokwane starting today.
The 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:
Tinotenda Kadewere (FC Nantes), 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)