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Sports Reporter
NEW Zimbabwe football team head coach Michael Nees has announced a 23-man squad for the upcoming AFCON 2025 Qualifiers against Kenya and Cameroon.
The German coach stuck to the core of the side that has been doing duty of late, dominated by familiar faces like Marshall Munetsi, Gerald Takwara, Andy Rinomhota, Jordan Zemura, Walter Musona, Tino Kadewere, Tawanda Maswanhise and Tawanda Chirewa, who moved to Derby County yesterday on a season’s loan.
Veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi and Tanzania-based forward Prince Dube made a comeback into the Warriors’ fold. Ngezi Platinum Stars hotshot Obriel Chirinda also got a call after returning to the playing field recently with a loud shout.
But there was no place for captain Marvelous Nakamba, who has been nursing a long-term injury.
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Nees will be assisted by Ngezi Platinum Stars coach Takesure Chiragwi, with Pernell McKop coming in as goalkeepers’ coach. Sharif Mussa has bounced back as team manager.
The Warriors will kickoff their quest for a place at the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco with a date against Kenya’s Harambee Stars in a Pool J qualifier at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda on September 6.
They will then host Cameroon at the same venue on September 10. Zimbabwe and Kenya currently do not have FIFA-approved stadiums to host international matches.
The Warriors are set to report for camp in Kampala, Uganda, on Sunday.
Warriors squad:
GOALKEEPERS: Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford), Donovan Bernard (Chicken Inn)
DEFENDERS: Gerald Takwara (Al Minaa SC), Brendan Galloway (Plymouth Argyle), Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen), Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders), Godknows Murwira (CAPS United), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Teenage Hadebe*
MIDFIELDERS: Marshall Munetsi (Stade de Reims), Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff City), Jordan Zemura (Udinese), Walter Musona (Simba Bhora), Daniel Msendami (Marumo Gallants), Brian Banda (FC Platinum), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell), Richard Hachiro (Ngezi Platinum), Tawanda Chirewa (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
FORWARDS: Tinotenda Kadewere (FC Nantes), Douglas Mapfumo (Polokwane City), Prince Dube (Young Africans), Obriel Chirinda (Ngezi Platinum)
TECHNICAL TEAM: Michael Nees (Head Coach) Takesure Chiragwi (Assistant Coach) Pernel McKop (Goalkeepers Coach) Abraham Mbaiwa (Fitness Trainer) James Makoni (Performance Analyst) Nick Munyonga (Team Doctor) Steve Hungwe (Physiotherapist) Lennon Gwara (Masseur) Shariff Mussa (Team Manager)
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