FORMER Warriors goalkeeper Edmore "Zikeeper" Sibanda has backed Zimbabwe to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals after they were drawn in Group J together with Cameroon, Kenya and Namibia.
Zimbabwe were seeded in Pot 4 of the draw after they slipped to 38th position on the Africa rankings. There was danger that the coachless and homeless Warriors team would be handed a tough draw as a result, but it seems they got away with a fair draw, according to Sibanda.
Sibanda opines that the draw presents a better chance for the team to make an instant return to the AFCON finals after missing the last edition in Ivory Coast due to a FIFA ban. He, however, warned the team of the threat posed by teams like Kenya and Namibia, the former having beaten Zimbabwe twice in their last meeting including a 2-0 defeat at the COSAFA Cup tournament in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.
“It's a fair group considering that there are no more small teams at continental football and in the world at large," Sibanda said.
"It's not a group of death, neither can we say it's an easy one, hence we have to be careful with teams like Kenya and Namibia especially judging from their performances at COSAFA."
While Kenya, just like Zimbabwe, crashed out of the ongoing COSAFA Cup tournament at the group stage, Namibia qualified to the semi-finals of the competition. “These guys are no longer pushovers, and they are really punching above their weight," Sibanda warned.
The qualifiers for the finals that will be staged in Morocco next year, will start in September and end in November 2024. The first and runners-up in the eleven groups that do not involve tournament hosts Morocco, will gain automatic qualification to the competition.
On paper, Cameroon appear hot favourites to finish on top of the group, leaving Zimbabwe, Kenya and Namibia to fight for the other qualifying slot from the pool.
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Sibanda urged Warriors players who will be selected to give it their all and make sure that the team qualifies for the finals, while also calling for the fans to support whoever will be picked to represent the country.
"One thing I have come to understand about national team games is its not only about the skill and talent but it's mostly about who can hold their nerve when the pressure is on because representing your club and your country are two different things and the moment we as players realize the responsibility that comes with wearing national team colours and we get that pressure under control then the skill and talent gets you through the game.
“My advice for whoever is selected to represent us in the upcoming qualifiers is to give it their all. Football is all about who wants it more on the day and we have people who love the game and no matter how much frustration they go through Zimbabwean fans are always ready to back the team up any day so let this qualification be for every fan who has shown unwavering support for the Warriors badge in good and bad times. Together, we can do this," Sibanda said.
The Warriors currently do not have a coach after Jairosi Tapera's contract ended on Tuesday when the team crashed out of the COSAFA Cup tournament. The Manica Diamonds coach was appointed on an interim basis to take charge of the World Cup games against Lesotho and South Africa, and the Cosafa Cup tournament. The team is also likely to continue playing its home matches in other countries as renovations at the National Sports Stadium are moving at a snail’s pace.
AFCON qualifying groups: Group A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia. Group B: Morocco, Gabon,Central Africa Republic, Lesotho. Group C: Egypt, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana Group D: Nigeria, Benin Libya, Rwanda. Group E: Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Liberia Group F: Ghana, Angola, Sudan, Niger. Group G: Cote d'Ivoire, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad Group H: DR Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia. Group I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Eswatini Group J: Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe. Group K: South Africa, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan. Group L: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi.
