Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE might be ranked eight places below Sierra Leone by FIFA, but the Warriors market value is far superior, with captain Marvelous Nakamba believing that edge can play a part in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying showdown in Morocco tomorrow.
The Group E match was moved to Morocco because Sierra Leone don’t have a CAF-approved stadium to host international games.
As well as having the advantage of playing their hosts at a neutral venue, Zimbabwe can also get encouragement from the fact that their stars are more valuable than the Leone Stars’ players.
The Warriors squad’s market value is € 25.42 million (approximately US$33.90million) compared to Sierra Leone’s € 14.37 million (US$19.16 million).
Actually, the total value of the entire Leone Stars team is less than that of Warriors’ Wolves midfielder Marshal Munetsi alone.
The former Stade de Reims man has a market value of (€15 million (US$19.99million).
On the field of play, though, Sierra Leone are ranked 122nd in the world as compared to Zimbabwe’s 130th place.
But Nakamba, in rallying the Warriors, said the value attached to Zimbabwe can be transformed into action and earn the Warriors the maximum points.
“This is only the opening game, and we all know how crucial it is,” said Nakamba.
“Every time we have qualified for the AFCON finals, we start well, and that’s what we should also do.
“Sierra Leone is a team that we have rarely met. Actually, the current generation has never played them at any level.
“They are an unknown quantity to us, if we can put it that way.
“They are ranked above us, and we should respect that fact.
“But if you look at our squad, we have more quality than them. We are ranked significantly higher than them on the market value scale.
“That should translate into the field of play, and I am quite confident we will be able to do so.”
Nakamba said the new coach, Catala, whom they are meeting for the first time in this window after the Spanish gaffer was appointed last month, is an easy-going man who stirs the Warriors ship.
“So far so good, and the environment the coach has created is enjoyable.
“We don’t have any complaints. We reckon we will play with so much pride and effort as we try to earn the maximum points from the match,” he said.
“The boys are in good spirits, and everyone is keen to get going.
“We are really excited and raring to go. We know it won’t be an easy task to beat Sierra Leone, but we will throw everything at them and see what happens.
“That’s what we are here for. I am happy to see all the players speaking with one voice, and that shows the unity of purpose everyone is carrying.”
The Sierra Leone squad looks sharp even with an inferior market value to the Warriors’. Only one player, Mohamed Fofanah who plays for East End Lions, is based in the Sierra Leone league, with the rest mostly playing overseas.
Their most valuable player, Juma Bah, plays for Augsburg in the German Bundesliga.
“We do respect them,” added Nakamba.
“But we know we have all that we need to win the game.
“We will put together a good show and make the nation proud.”
The Warriors will fly back home immediately after the Sierra Leone game to face DRC at the National Sports Stadium on Monday.
