Online Reporter
Blessing Malinganiza
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TINO Kadewere has declared his readiness to open a new chapter for the Warriors after recovering from injury and after posting a top-drawer performance for his Greek side, Aris Thessaloniki over the weekend.
His statement comes ahead of the Unity Cup in London and the African Cup of Nations qualifiers draw set for Cairo today.
Zimbabwe will face Nigeria in London while Jamaica face India, a tournament that runs from May 26 to 30. But before Kadewere and company can travel for that four-nations tournament, they will also be aware of their opponents in the qualifiers, as the road to TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) PAMOJA 2027 begin.
The new campaign also comes at a time when Zimbabwe’s National Sports Stadium is set to open again for football, and closer to perfection to be able to host international matches.
According to CAF, the qualification draw will take place at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association from 15:00 local time, with the first matches expected to be played in the FIFA International Window from September 21 to 6 October 2026.
If Government’s time-lines are anything to go by, that is enough time for the NSS perfection process and possible stadium inspections before the Warriors plunge into battle. Previously Zimbabwe hosted teams in foreign land.
The latest AFCON qualifiers process started with preliminary round matches which saw South Sudan, Burundi, Somalia, Lesotho, Eritrea and Ethiopia progressing to join 42 top-ranked sides on the continent in the group stages.
In Cairo, “the 48 teams will be divided into 12 groups, with the top two sides in each pool qualifying automatically for the finals”.
Co-hosts Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, CAF say, are guaranteed places at the tournament regardless of their qualification results, meaning only one other team will emerge from their pools.
Caretaker coach Kaitano Tembo will have an idea what he has at his disposal ahead of the qualifiers when he leads the Warriors at the four-team tournament in London.
Kadewere, who has been given another chance to prove himself, believes this is a new chapter, and he is ready to prove himself.
“I put my body on the line for the love of Zimbabwe. This brace is for the fans, and I want to bring that same fire to the national team,” he said after his weekend game.
The striker was absent from Zimbabwe’s AFCON campaign and subsequent matches, but his return alongside vice-captain Marshall Munetsi signals a major reset for the Warriors under interim coach Tembo.
“I have always said my job is to serve the country with dedication. When I put on the national badge, it is the ultimate satisfaction for me,” Kadewere said.
In Greece, Kadewere’s introduction in the second half came with devastating effects in the Greek Super League, scoring twice and providing an assist as Aris massacred Levadiakos 3-0.
He came off the bench in the 59th minute before breaking the deadlock in the 63rd minute, setting up a second goal in the 72nd minute and sealing his brace in the 80th minute.
He will be hoping to bring that form to the tournament scheduled for The Valley in London.
“Zimbabwe is bigger than any individual. I feel very hurt when things do not go our way for the country. We want to make the nation proud in London. This is a new chapter, and I am ready to give my all,” he said.
Kadewere, who has faced scrutiny in the past for his lack of goals at the international level, insisted that his role extends beyond just finding the back of the net.
“We can’t be naive to think about an individual scoring, it’s all about helping the team achieve its targets. So I am just concentrating on helping the team more than anything else,” he said.
“But as a forward, if given a chance to hurt your opponent, it is what I am always looking forward to, more goals and enjoy the moment.”
48 African countries entering AFCON draw:
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cote d’lvoire, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
