WARRIORS coach Michael Nees is hoping to seal qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations tomorrow when his team faces off with Kenya in their penultimate Group J qualifier in Polokwane, South Africa.
Zimbabwe need a point from this match to clinch their ticket to next year’s finals set for Morocco.
Should they falter against the Harambe Stars, they might need to beat group leaders and already qualified Cameroon on Tuesday next week in Yaounde to be certain of progression.
With eight points in the bag, Nees’ men have their qualification destiny firmly in their hands.
The German national is happy with his team’s position and wants to seal their place as soon as possible, against a Kenya side who need to beat Zimbabwe to keep their hopes alive.
“We are happy because we are in a good position,” Nees said.
“From the start, we said we want to have fate in our own hands and be in a better position. We achieved that, but that doesn’t mean that we should get complacent.
“We have to do the final step and we have good possibles. The players showed good spirit in the first two camps and I’m sure we will be able to do that and achieve our goal.”
- Zifa pass on big opportunity
- Work cut out for new Warriors coach
- Say Nees, Romario implores Warriors fans
- All the best Nees, but…
Keep Reading
All players called into camp bar Tino Kadewere were in Polokwane by Tuesday to prepare for the big clash.
Vice-captain Marshall Munetsi, based in France, Teenage Hadebe from the USA, Munashe Garan’anga, who plays club football in Denmark, as well as Gerald Takwara were the last to arrive on Tuesday to complete the full complement of the squad.
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 on Monday.
However, the team’s training sessions all week have been interrupted by heavy rains that waterlogged their training pitch.
The good thing is that their opponents Kenya, who are also in Polokwane, have also struggled to put together any meaningful training session due to the same reason.
Kenya have four points and need a perfect record in their final two remaining matches against Zimbabwe and Namibia to qualify for 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)
