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The Warriors, drawn in Group B, get the ball rolling against Niger in Wad Madani, the capital of the Al Jazirah state in east-central Sudan on Saturday.
Under the tutelage of Zimbabwean soccer legend Madinda Ndlovu and Darlington Dodo, the Warriors will also square off against neighbours South Africa and Ghana in their charge for a quarter-final berth.
Speaking to Chronicle Tuesday, Warriors caretaker manager Chris Chitindi said they believed their preparations for the tournament were thorough and even though he could not promise automatic success, he was nevertheless hopeful.
“It’s a tournament where all other countries also prepared well for it and as such it is quite tricky but as Zimbabwe we are quite determined to do the nation proud,” said Chitindi who quickly assured the nation that they would leave today, contrary to reports that the team might actually fail to depart for the championships.
Warriors Squad
Goalkeepers: W Arubi, T Dube, A Sibanda
Defenders: G Zhokinyu. D Veremu, B Nyahunzvi, N Mukumbi, Z Ngodzo, D Boriwondo, Q Amin, G Mapemba.
Midfielders: E Meleka, E Mudzingwa, B Ncube, D Mukamba, A Gutu, C Chiutsa, J Ngodzo, B Mapfumo.
Strikers: C Sibanda, C Kawinga, N Maroto, S Sithole.
Technical Team : Acting coach M Ndlovu, Assistant coach D. Dodo, Goalkeepers’ coach R Tswatswa, Team Manager C Chitindi, Team Liaison officer E Kasinauyo, Kit Manager C Mabvudza.
Group B Fixtures
5 February: Ghana v South Africa (5.30pm), Zimbabwe v Niger (8pm),
9 February: South Africa v Niger (5.30pm), Ghana v Zimbabwe (8pm) 13 February: Ghana v Niger (8pm), South Africa v Zimbabwe (8pm) – Chronicle
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