The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimbabwe national team coach Zdravko Logarusic has named the squad to face Algeria in back to back AFCON qualifiers although it is now highly likely the Confederation of African Football will postpone the qualifiers due to the ravaging coronavirus which has since been upgraded to pandemic status.
Algeria are scheduled to host the first leg in Blida ,which is one of the most affected cities in Africa, on March 26 with the return leg set for South Africa three days later as all Zimbabwean stadiums are currently banned from hosting international matches.
High profile midfielder Marvelous Nakamba, whose English side Aston Villa played Leicester City who have three players suspected to have symptoms consistent with coronavirus last Monday, is part of the 20-man squad.
There are also doubts whether French Ligue 2 side Le Havre will release Tino Kadewere who headlines a Warriors strike force that also has Charlton Athletic’s Macauley Bonne, Knox Mutizwa (Golden Arrows) and Charlton Mashumba of Polokwane City.
Highlanders’ centre back Peter Muduwa is also part of the squad and so is Partson Jaure of Dynamos.
Familiar names Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona, Alec Mudimu, Elvis Chipezeze, Ovidy Karuru and Kuda Mahachi are part of the squad.
There is no place for former number one keeper George Chigova who was on the list that was initially sent to ZIFA for approval.
Chigova was Zimbabwe’s first choice at the 2021 AFCON finals in Egypt but fell out with the association after he was accused of being one of the ring leaders of a player mutiny that marred the Warriors ‘campaign.
Warriors’ squad
Goalkeepers: Martin Mapisa (Zamora CF), Elvis Chipezeze (Baroka)
Defenders: Partson Jaure (Dynamos), Alec Mudimu (FC Sheriff Tiraspol), Teenage Hadebe (Yeni Malatyaspor), Divine Lunga (Golden Arrows), Ian Nekati (Chicken Inn), Peter Muduwa (Highlanders)
Midfielders: Marshall Munetsi (Stade de Reims), Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Horoya AC), Butholezwe Ncube (Amazulu), Marvelous Nakamba (Aston Villa), Kudakwashe Mahachi (SuperSport United), Ovidy Karuru (Stellenbosch), Knowledge Musona K.A.S Eupen), Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs)
Strikers: Tinotenda Kadewere (Le Havre AC), Charlton Mashumba (Polokwane City), Knox, Mutizwa (Golden Arrows), Macauley Bonne (Charlton Athletic)
