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Fungai Muderere . .
THE Zimbabwe senior national soccer team and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) go head-to-head in a top of the table clash in a Group G duel with the first encounter set for the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa on Saturday evening.
Kick-off is at 7.30 pm.
The reverse fixture is slated for the National Sports Stadium in Harare on 16 October with kick-off set for 7 pm.
“It’s a battle that we shouldn’t lose. We are going there to fight,” reckoned Warriors head coach Sunday Chidzambwa.
The Warriors lead Group G with four points from two matches while the Leopards are in second place, also on four points but have an inferior goal difference.
Whichever team does well in these two upcoming matches will take control of the group and will be in the driving seat to seal a place at the finals to be held in Cameroon next June-July.
Chidzambwa’s charges will bank on skipper Knowledge Musona and evergreen Khama Billiat upfront, for a positive result.
Orlando Pirates’ new signing Kudakwashe “Nkembe” Mahachi is not available for selection.
Chidzambwa is well aware of this and will be hoping that some of his key players who missed the team’s trip to Congo Brazzaville through injuries will have recovered by the time they meet DRC, who are expected to field a star-studded squad.
Costa Nhamoinesu, Marvellous Nakamba, Ovidy Karuru and Tino Kadewere did not travel with the rest of the squad to Brazzaville, but all travelled to DRC with the hope they would be fit for the two matches.
The DRC squad list is headlined by the speedy and tricky Aston Villa winger Yannick Bolasie. DRC are expected to field a star-studded squad.
Bolasie missed the Leopards’ 1-1 draw away to Liberia last month in which they needed a late equaliser from Elia Meschak to salvage a point.
The 29-year-old winger, who joined Villa last month on a season’s loan from Everton, is working his way back to full fitness and is likely to be a handful for the Warriors if he is selected to start.
Former Chelsea star Gael Kakuta is also in the DRC squad and is set to make his debut in a competitive match for the Leopards.
Kakuta represented France at junior level but finally decided to play for the Leopards and made his debut in a friendly international last year.
West Ham full back Arthur Masauku is another big name in the squad to face the Warriors.
Bakambu scored a brace in the Leopards’ 3-1 win over Congo in their opening Group G match last year but was a notable absentee in Liberia.
The former Villarreal forward is currently in fine form for his China Super League side Beijing Gouan where he has scored 14 times in 19 matches.
derick.khumalo