Warriors defender Godknows Murwira has said that the Zimbabwe senior national football team will have no excuse if they were to fail to take maximum points in today’s Group C 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier.
Zimbabwe host Lesotho at Orlando Stadium in Soweto in a 3pm kick-off clash, with both sides chasing their first set of maximum points.
The Warriors played out two draws in the first two matches against Rwanda and Nigeria and will look to breathe life into their campaign with a win.
Murwira, who played at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon, believes that anything less than three points will be poor for the Warriors.
“Lesotho are a tricky side, but those are the teams we should beat if we are to challenge for a place at the World Cup,” the Caps United skipper said.
“We just have to go for it and collect maximum points. It might be tough, but this Lesotho game is one we should be winning.”
The Warriors will look to draw inspiration from what is expected to be a good crowd cheering them on, with a lot Zimbabweans resident in the Gauteng area promising to go and watch the match at the stadium.
“Hopefully, the fans, especially those in South Africa, come in their numbers and cheer us on so that we can get the job done.”
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Murwira is happy to bounce back into the national team and hopes he can get a chance to make an impression.
“Yeah, it’s every player’s dream to play for their national team, so when I learnt that I was part of the squad, I was so happy that I was going to represent my nation. We [the players] have met for the first time with some of the guys, but it doesn’t even feel like that because of the brotherhood we have in camp. We are treating each other as brothers. I have been received well and I can’t complain.”
He is one of a few locally-based players in the squad, which is dominated by players plying their trade outside the country’s borders.
Warriors squad
Goalkeepers: Bernard Donovan (Chicken Inn), Martin Mapisa (Dynamos), Geofrey Chitsumba (Manica Diamonds).
Defenders: Gerald Takwara (Ohod, Saudi Arabia), Teenage Hadebe (Konyaspor, Turkey), Brendan Galloway (Plymouth Argyle, ENG), Munashe Garananga (Kv Mechelen, Belgium), Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders), Godknows Murwira (Caps United), Shane Maroodza (Huddersfield, ENG), Devine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns, SA).
Midfielders: Marshall Munetsi (Stade de Reims, (FR), Andy Rinemhota (Rotherham United (ENG), Jordan Zemura (Udenese, Italy), Walter Musona (Simba Bhora), Daniel Msendami (Jwaneng Galaxy, Botswana), Tivonge Rushesha (Reading, ENG), Joey Phuthi (Sheffield Wednesday, ENG), Tawanda Maswanhise (Leicester City, ENG).
Forwards: Tinotenda Kadewere (Fc Nantes, FR), Tawanda Chirewa (Wolverhampton, ENG), Douglas Mapfumo (Polokwane, SA), Tymon Machope (Simba Bhora).
