Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
WARRIORS coach Ramon Catala is confident his charges will do a great job against Equatorial Guinea in the upcoming back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Zimbabwe, just like Equatorial Guinea, have three points under their belt from their opening Group E games played last month after beating Sierra Leone 3-2 before losing 1-2 against DR Congo.
If they can get four or six points against their next opponent, the Warriors will be set for qualification.
And after releasing a 32-member provisional squad, which has seen the return of some experienced players and some stars previously injured, the Spanish coach says they stand a good chance to deliver.
“I am confident that the squad will give the nation some positive results. That is what we are all looking for, and it’s a matter of having that focus and keeping it,” said Catala.
“I would like to thank ZIFA for fully supporting us in the discharge of our duties, and I believe we can do well in this environment.”
The Spanish gaffer knows the two matches against the West Africans will be key in determining the Warriors’ qualifying fate as only the top two from the four-team group will secure tickets to the AFCON jamboree next year.
Zimbabwe will play Equatorial Guinea in Cameroon first on November 13 before they host the same opponents at the National Sports Stadium four days later.
Equatorial Guinea are hosting their games in Cameroon due to a lack of a CAF-approved venue.
As largely expected, Catala dropped liability goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze, who was culpable in both games last month.
ZPC Kariba’s Future Sibanda has been picked as Chipezeze’s replacement while Nelson Chadya and Martin Mapisa, who were benched in both games last month, have been retained.
Midfielders Jonah Fabisch, who is playing in the South African top-flight, Scottland’s Mtokhozisi Msebe, and Hardrock defender Tinotenda Muringai have been included, as have the Musona brothers Walter and Knowledge, Mongameli Tshuma and Ishmael Wadi.
Catala said he picked his squad based on the fact that he wants to unlock an Equatorial Guinea side that has depth, which is largely helped by the presence of their players in top European leagues like Serie A.
“We have settled for those 32 players, and it’s a provisional squad.
“I think as the days draw nearer, we might get some who can raise their hands for recognition and some who can drop out maybe due to some other things like injuries.
“But for now, this is what we have; this is what we believe can give us the results that we are looking for in the games against Equatorial Guinea,” said Catala.
Catala, who was appointed in August, is expected to lead the Warriors to what will be their seventh appearance at the AFCON finals, which will be co-hosted in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
He will be hoping that some of the experienced players like Knowledge Musona, Tino Kadewere, Prince Dube and Jordan Zemura, who all dropped out of the squad through injuries the last time out, will not suffer the same fate this time around.
Catala will trim the team from 32 to 23 players as the dates for the games draw nearer.
