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Fungai Muderere
BRUISED Warriors will tomorrow take on Eswatini in the 2025 CHAN preliminary round 2nd leg encounter that will be played at South Africa’s Mbombela Stadium.
In the first leg, the Warriors were handed a 3-0 defeat in a match that was played in Francistown, Botswana with Zimbabwe being the hosts.
Ewatini achieved the remarkable victory in a match Andy Magagula was the star for Eswatini, scoring twice in the first half, with Sifiso Matse adding a third.
All the goals came in the first half. Despite Zimbabwe’s history of CHAN qualifications—five out of seven tournaments—they struggled to contain Eswatini, who are among the 22 African nations yet to reach the CHAN finals.
The Warriors are under the guidance of Ngezi Platinum Stars head coach Taksure Chiragwi who has reinforced his Warriors CHAN squad calling Dynamos pair of Emmanuel Jalai and goalkeeper Martin Mapisa to join the team in South Africa ahead of tomorrow’s clash.
The Warriors squad that consists of Under 20 and 23 players with only four senior players.
It was the first time that the Warriors hosted their opponents in Botswana having previously used the Orlando Stadium in South Africa, the Mandela National Stadium in Uganda and the Huye Stadium in Rwanda once each.
Only players playing their trades in their domestic leagues are permitted to play in the CHAN competition as per CAF’s rules and regulations. Should the Warriors knockout Eswatini, they will face Madagascar in the second round of the qualifiers.
Madagascar received a bye in the first round.
The winner of the next round will qualify for the Chan finals. The second round ties are slated for December 20 to 22 and December 27 to 29. Zimbabwe are returning to the contest after being absent from the previous edition because of an international ban.
The Warriors have taken part in the competition five times, with their best act being a fourth-place finish achieved at the 2014 finals in South Africa under the guidance of Ian Gorowa.
The 2025 CHAN finals, which will be held in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from 1-28 February 2025. Zimbabwe exited the ongoing competition on group D’s second position, a point behind the winners Mozambique.
Goalkeepers:
Donovan Bernard (Chicken Inn), Martin Mapisa (Dynamos), Joseph Kaunda (Manica Diamonds)
Defenders:
Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Godknows Murwira (Caps United), Allan Chapinduka (TelOne FC), Anotidaishe Gwatidzo (Yadah
FC), Thubelihle Jubani (Manica Diamonds), Zibusiso Ruguchu (Herentals), Blessing Kagudu (Herentals), Chris Mukumbira (Bikita Minerals)
Midfielders:
Brian Banda (FC Platinum), Blessed Ndereki (Yadah FC), Mthokozisi Msebe (Simba Bhora), McKinnon Mushore (Highlanders), Tinashe Mashaireni (Kwekwe United), Denzel Mapuwa (Green Fuel), Enock Moyo (Bikita Minerals)
Forwards:
Obriel Chirinda (Ngezi Platinums), Junior Bunjira (Caps United), Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya (FC Platinum), Tinashe Mavhudzi (Chegutu Pirates), Prince Ndlovu (Highlanders), Ashwin Karengesha (ZPC Kariba).
derick.khumalo