After the disappointment of missing out on the African Cup of Nations due to an ongoing ban from FIFA, Zimbabwean football fans are now turning their attention to the future. This year’s competition is certainly out of reach, but with World Cup 2026 on the distant horizon, there are high hopes that the national team will be reinstated by football’s governing body in time to enter the qualification process.
If that comes to pass, could The Warriors do what none of their predecessors have done before and reach the Holy Grail of the World Cup in three years’ time? It will certainly be a difficult challenge, but with the experienced Shepherd Murape at the helm, and the talented pool of players at his disposal, there’s every reason for Zimbabwean fans to dream of making to the sport’s biggest tournament in 2026.
Overturning the ban
At the start of 2022, FIFA announced that both Kenya and Zimbabwe were banned from all competitive matches affiliated with the organization. The suspension came as a result of alleged interference from the respective governments of the two countries in the internal workings of their football associations.
In Zimbabwe, the government’s Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) had suspended the board of ZIFA due to suspicions of fraud and sexual harassment. As such, the Zimbabwean authorities believe they have acted with propriety at all times and there is a growing confidence within the country that the national team will be readmitted by FIFA sometime this year.
Expanded format
If and when that hurdle is cleared, then Murape and his charges can focus their attention on the target in front of them: making it to North America in three years’ time. Of course, the fact that no Zimbabwean team has ever achieved that goal before might temper expectations, but it should be remembered that the upcoming World Cup will be quite like no other.
That’s because the 2026 edition will be the first to follow FIFA’s expanded blueprint, with 48 teams competing instead of 32. That change will see Africa’s quota surge from five automatic qualifiers for Qatar to nine for the USA, Canada and Mexico – with the prospect of a tenth teaming joining the others via the play-offs. As such, bitcoin football betting enthusiasts might fancy The Warriors to go one better than any team has managed in the past.
- In Full: Nineteenth post-cabinet press briefing: July 05, 2022
- Muzarabani eager for Chevrons to qualify for Australia 2022
- R. Kelly sentenced to 30 years in sex trafficking case
- Cops Arrested For USD 10 Fraud
Keep Reading
International pedigree
Of course, the most important deciding factor will be the performance of the team itself. With the national outfit not having kicked a ball since their suspension almost 18 months ago, there are likely to be signs of rustiness. However, the squad can draw heart from the fact that their last outing was a 2-1 home win against Guinea at last year’s African Cup of Nations.
What’s more, Murape himself has extensive experience and an international pedigree to bring to the team, having managed in South Africa and Namibia as well as his native Zimbabwe. He’s even helmed the national team in both of the latter two nations before, while the players at his disposal are increasingly plying their trades overseas in the more accomplished European leagues. The last squad had players from the English Premier League, La Liga and the MLS, as well as plenty of African stars from major clubs on the continent. As such, the talent pool from which Murape can make his selections has arguably never been stronger.
There are several major obstacles for The Warriors to overcome if they are to make it to the World Cup finals in North America in three years’ time – not least a FIFA suspension and the pesky matter of the qualification process. However, there are plenty of reasons for optimism going forwards.
