Langton Nyakwenda and Blessing Malinganiza
THE Warriors will regroup in Polokwane, South Africa, today for their crunch 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya on Friday (kick-off 6pm), minus striker Tinotenda Kadewere who has suffered yet another injury.
The France-based Kadewere has been a subject of intense debate among fans in recent months, coming under fire for his goal drought in national team colours.
His absence for the fifth game since September means he will not be able to play any part in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, despite national team coach Michael Nees rewarding him with a call up for each game.
After their home match against Kenya at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, the Warriors will travel to Cameroon for the last match of the campaign four days later. Kadewere had been part of Nees’ squad named for the two games against Kenya and Cameroon.
He is yet to play a Warriors game under Nees, but has continued to receive the backing of the German expatriate, despite some fans thinking otherwise.
Kadewere is understood to have aggravated his injury in a French Ligue 1 game against Marseille in which he scored Nantes’ goal, albeit in a 2-1 losing cause.
“Tino has encountered a setback in his career due to an unfortunate injury. The injury was sustained during a match against Marseille and, as a result, he is currently sidelined and underwent a scan to determine the extent of the damage. The scan showed the extent of the injury and he is now out for four weeks,” said a source close to Kadewere.
The development comes as a blow to Kadewere, who has been keen to impress the new coach.
“He had been hoping to get cleared and had already communicated his position with the coach. Both parties were hoping that after the assessment he would still have a chance to join the camp. Tino is a bit frustrated as he wants to also contribute something to the team as they seek to secure their ticket to next year’s edition.
“But we understand the coach has also emphasised to him on the need for full recovery as they feared they might aggravate his injury and advised him to be assessed first, at the same time, pinning their hopes on his availability,” added the source.
Eight teams, including hosts Morocco, have already qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and Zimbabwe could join the elite list on Friday night.
For that to happen, the Warriors must get at least a point from their penultimate Group J qualifier against Kenya.
Angola, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt and Senegal are the other teams to have booked their tickets to the continental showpiece. The Warriors are second in Group J with eight points, two behind Cameroon and four ahead of Kenya.
And the Warriors go into battle in their last home game of the campaign having two options — either to restrict the Harambee Stars to a draw or beat the East Africans to seal the group’s second qualification slot.
Success at Peter Mokaba would guarantee the Warriors a sixth appearance at the biennial tournament, having made their debut at the 2004 edition in Tunisia.
Zimbabwe edged closer to qualification for next year’s competition when they completed back-to-back wins over winless Namibia last month. They first edged the Brave Warriors 1-0 via a Khama Billiat penalty at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on October 10, before posting a more convincing 3-1 triumph over the Namibians at the same venue four days later.
After beating Namibia in the two clashes in October, Zimbabwe are now favourites to join Cameroon from Group J. In the reverse fixture against Namibia, Walter Musona led the way with a brace.
The gifted Simba Bhora winger has also been in fine form for his club, inspiring them to a maiden Castle Lager Premier Soccer League championship title last Wednesday. Musona scored the solitary goal against Arenel Movers at Luveve Stadium as Simba Bhora became the first team from Mashonaland Central to lift the top-flight championship.
His confidence is naturally on a high, as he shifts focus to national duty.
“I am happy to have won the championship with Simba Bhora, it was not easy; we worked hard as a team to achieve this feat,” he told Zimpapers Sports Hub.
“This gives me the confidence going to the national team. We are almost there; we just need to cross the line. We want to go to Polokwane to finish the job.”
He is one of the seven local-based players called up by Nees. Goalkeeper Martin Mapisa and Emmanuel Jalai (both Dynamos), Godknows Murwira (CAPS United), Richard Hachiro (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Khama Billiat (Yadah FC) and Tymon Machope (Simba Bhora) are the other home-based players called up.
The local contingent is expected to leave for Polokwane today via OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
The 2025 qualifying assignments have been coming thick and fast, with two matches every month since September, and Nees has had to make the most of the limited time to get the players to understand his philosophy, while also avoiding defeat in those games.
“This competition is very unique; it’s like a crash course,” Nees said.
“From the first match to the last, I think it’s 10 weeks. About two- and-a-half months and it’s finished. I think it’s the most condensed qualification ever for an Africa Cup of Nations. It’s very unique.”
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)
