Peter Tanyanyiwa
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE senior soccer team coach Marian “Mario” Marinica could have received just the kind of Christmas boost he needed yesterday after three of his key players led by veteran and former captain Knowledge Musona returned to training ahead of the crucial Africa Cup of Nations Group B clash with Angola set for tomorrow.
The trio of Divine Lunga, Sean Fusire and Musona, who were not available for selection for the opening match against Egypt on Monday due to various knocks, returned to full training yesterday.
Zimbabwe face a must-win Boxing Day fixture against the Palancas Negras, who just like the Warriors, also suffered a defeat in their first Group B match against South Africa, also on Monday.
Marinica needed all his players available to boost selection options after suffering severe limitations in the heart-breaking 1-2 defeat to the Pharaohs of Egypt on Monday.
Musona has been a key member of the Zimbabwe team for more than a decade and is featuring in his fourth AFCON finals tournament.
Mamelodi Sundowns defender Lunga has also been a key member and many stakeholders lamented his absence for the Egypt tie, driven by nostalgia from the 2019 AFCON finals when he literally marked the Pharaohs’ dangerman Mohamed Salah out of the game.
Fusire is new to the set-up, but the trio’s availability will definitely present Marinica with a wider selection pool for the remaining two matches against Angola and South Africa.
The trio was part of the action yesterday when the Warriors held two training sessions in Marrakech.
However, gangly defender Munashe Garananga sat out with a blow on his upper leg, which was being closely monitored by the medical crew.
“The Zimbabwe Warriors held a full training session today from 1000hrs to 1200hrs, with strong intensity and positive energy evident throughout camp,” said ZIFA in a statement, after the Warriors’ morning shift.
“All players were in attendance, with the sole exception of Munashe Garananga, who was unable to take part after sustaining a dead leg. His condition continues to be monitored by the medical team.
“Encouragingly, Knowledge Musona, Sean Fusire, and Divine Lunga, who were unavailable for selection in the match against Egypt due to injury, successfully completed the entire training session alongside the rest of the squad.
“Their full participation is a significant boost to the technical team, with all three players showing sharpness, confidence, and a clear readiness to return to competitive action.
“Overall, morale remains high in camp, competition for places is intense, and the group is fully focused as preparations continue for the next assignment against Angola in Marrakech.”
The Warriors players and officials will celebrate their Christmas and Boxing Day holidays in the most unique way this year, away from their families and with an eye on competing to make the knockout stage at AFCON for the first time in six appearances.
The stakes are high in clash with Angola as both teams need to win to stay in contention in Group B after suffering identical 1-2 losses.
Angola were on the receiving end against South Africa.
Palancas Negras coach Patrice Beaumelle believes his charges stand a good chance after losing a closely contested tie to Bafana Bafana.
“But we played a good game even though it was not easy and we had opportunities to score too.
“AFCON is a long competition and we have to get points from our matches against Zimbabwe and Egypt to get out of the group stages.
“The next game against Zimbabwe on Friday is crucial for us.”
Beaumelle said his players have put behind them the defeat to South Africa and were focusing on bouncing back against Zimbabwe.
“We lost 2-1 to Bafana but the atmosphere from the players in the locker room is positive because we respect the plan.
“We know we made two mistakes and when you do that against a good team it is difficult.
“We just have to correct our mistakes and be more efficient against Zimbabwe, but we are still alive in the competition,” he said.
While both Angola and Zimbabwe are yet to take off on the points table, Egypt and South Africa lead Group B with three points apiece ahead of the crucial top-of-the-table encounter tomorrow.
Online Reporter