Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Warriors are up for a few experiments during the international friendly matches against West African nations Burkina Faso and Niger in the coming days, with coach Michael Nees looking to hand as many players a chance in his quest to integrate new players into his system.
Zimbabwe face Burkina Faso in Casablanca on Friday before meeting Niger next Tuesday.
This is all part of Zimbabwe’s preparations for the remaining 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for Morocco later in the year.
Nees took this opportunity to include new players that he has never worked with since his appointment last year, after resting regulars Marvelous Nakamba, Marshall Munetsi, Devine Lunga, Knowledge Musona, Jordan Zemura, Tawanda Chirewa and Andy Rinomhota.
The explanation was that some of the players were unavailable due to injuries, while Nees also felt the likes of Munetsi, Zemura, Lunga and Musona needed a bit of rest after completing highly taxing campaigns with their clubs.
The German coach will be keen to see what players like Bill Antonio, Mason Mushore, Jonah Fabisch, Donald Mudadi, Sean Fusire, Daniel Msendami, Tawanda Macheke, Tino Kadewere and goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze can offer to his Warriors.
They arrived in the North African country in batches on Monday for the international friendly matches and had their first full training session yesterday.
“The mood looks to be really good and the squad has, of course, some new faces and some new players, and we want to see how they chill in and how can we assemble very quickly a competitive team for the Friday match and then, of course, the Tuesday one,” said Nees.
Both games are crucial for the Warriors, who still have four World Cup qualifying matches to play this year before heading back to Morocco for the 2025 AFCON finals in December.
“In terms of team development, we want to integrate these new players. We basically will have to play with a completely new midfield because all the players that we have been usually playing so far or starting in the midfield are out.
“So that we have to work on. Then it’s also, you know, some players, the season ended, some are in mid-season. That will also be from a loading aspect. We must look at how this will be affecting the set-up of the team.”
The return of France-based Kadewere and Antonio, who seems to have hit the right chords at KV Mechelen in the Belgian Pro League, has excited many Zimbabweans. The duo missed previous selections due to persistent injuries.
Goalkeeper Chipezeze also forced his way back into the Warriors’ reckoning after a five-year absence following his stand-out performances in the South African Premiership.
“We have some players who came back from a long injury as well, like Tino (Kadewere) or even Bill Antonio, although he was already playing, but he was not yet having 90-minute games.
“And, of course, we have some newer players back, like Elvis, or players who performed well in the clubs. We need to assemble very quickly and get a certain harmony, but we also want to give as many players as possible game time in these two friendlies.
“We cannot say in advance who and which, but, of course, we want to give as many players as possible game time,” said Nees.
Nees has an interesting blend of local and foreign-based players.
The Burkinabe Stallions only have four local players for their two international friendlies against Tunisia and Zimbabwe, while the Warriors have more than double that number after 10 players from the domestic league were picked.
After their gruelling journey to North Africa, the Warriors held a light session yesterday.
“We still expect some players to arrive so that by tomorrow (today) we should be complete. Today (yesterday) was really a very easy relaxation training.
“Nothing with the ball. It would have been too stressful because they were sitting the whole day and the whole night in the plane,” Nees said after yesterday’s workout.
Burkina Faso have already got down to business, albeit via a 0-2 defeat by Tunisia in Tunis on Monday.
The Stallions coach, Brama Traoré, has called up a mostly foreign-based squad with experienced stars that include Bertrand Traoré, Edmond Tapsoba, Issoufou Dayo, Mohamed Konate and Issa Kaboré.
Burkina Faso still have realistic chances of qualifying for the World Cup and have up-scaled their preparations ahead of their four remaining matches in September and October.
They are currently in second place in Group A, five points behind group favourites Egypt, who the Stallions will face in September.
Traore’s men have also qualified for both the CHAN and the AFCON finals.
Zimbabwe Squad:
Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants), Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford)
Defenders: Teenage Hadebe (Cincinnati), Gerald Takwara (Al Minaa SC), Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bhora), Peter Muduhwa, Godknows Murwira (Scottland), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos)
Midfielders: Mthokozisi Msebe, Khama Billiat (Scottland), Mason Mushore (Highlanders), Jonah Fabisch (FC Aue), Donald Mudadi (Simba Bhora), Sean Fusire (Sheffield Wednesday), Daniel Msendami (Marumo Gallants), Bill Antonio (K.V. Mechelen).
Forwards: Terrence Dzvukamanja (SuperSport), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell), Walter Musona (Scottland), Tawanda Macheke (TelOne FC), Tino Kadewere (Nantes).
Burkina Faso Squad:
Goalkeepers: Hervé Koffi (RC Lens), Farid Ouedraogo (AS Vita Club), Kilian Nikiema (ADO la Haye), Ladji B. Sanou (AS SONABEL)
Defenders: Issa Kaboré (Werder Bremen), Ismaël Ganiou (FC Annecy), Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen), Nasser Djiga (Woltherampton), Adamo Nagalo (PSV Eindhoven), Hassane Rachid Traore (USFA), Issoufou Dayo (RS Berkhane), Arsène Guy Kouassi (AC Ajaccio)
Midfielders: Rachid Ayinde (Jong KAA Gent), Cédric Badolo (Spartak Trnava), Saidou Simporé (National Bank Egypte), Stéphane Aziz Ki (Wydad Athletic Club), Josué Tiendrebeogo (FC Annecy), Mohamed Zoungrana (Mouloudia Club), Memel Dao (AS SONABEL), Abdoul Razack Yoda (FC Milsami)
Forwards: Ousséni Bouda (Earthquakes San José), Cyriaque Bi Irié Kalou (Fribourg), Bertrand Traore (Ajax), Hassane Bandé (HJK Helsinki), Jack Pantoulou Diarra (Salitas FC), Pierre Landry Kabore (JK Trans Narva), Mohamed Konaté (Al-Riyadh FC).
