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Blessing Malinganiza
WARRIORS will have to shrug off inadequate preparations as they kick start their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign against Rwanda at Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda today.
The Warriors will wear black armbands in honour of the late football legend, Rahman Gumbo who passed away last Friday.
Kick-off is 3pm.
Despite an 18-month Fifa ban, Zimbabwe (125th) are ranked higher than Rwanda (140th) on the latest Fifa World Rankings and will start as favourites on paper ahead of a tougher match against group top seeds Nigeria at the same venue on Sunday.
The 23 players in coach Baltemar Brito’s squad are meeting as a group for the first time and barely trained together.
This means Brito’s selection will be influenced more by the players’ club performances and profiles whereby those in the more advanced leagues get preferred.
However, having been on the domestic scene with Highlanders, Brito might also look to those he has worked with or watched more often in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League and Chibuku Super Cup.
One of the most experienced members of the squad, USA-based Teenage Hadebe joined camp yesterday hoping to embark on a second World Cup qualifier having featured in the Warriors’ last two AFCON appearances.
The 28-year-old Houston Dynamo defender, who flew directly from the United States of America to Rwanda, is relishing the opportunity of wearing the Zimbabwe national team jersey once again.
“It’s always nice to play for your country,” Hadebe told Zimpapers Sports.
“We were missing international football and I am delighted that Zimbabwe are back from the suspension and we as players can have that chance of representing our country.
“So, I guess that is motivating us enough going into the game against Rwanda.”
Hadebe is one of the eight defenders named by Warriors coach Brito, in a 23-man squad set to face Rwanda this afternoon.
But the United States based centre back is a sure bet for the starting line-up, given his vast experience.
The other centre backs in the squad are Peter Muduhwa (Highlanders), Frank Makarati (Dynamos) and Munashe Garan’anga (Sheriff Tiraspol).
Mamelodi Sundowns left back Devine Lunga is also one of the most experienced players in that squad having played for Zimbabwe at the 2019 AFCON finals in Egypt.
His name went viral after he outshined Egypt star Mohamad Salah in the opening game of the tournament.
Udinese left back Jordan Zemura also played at the 2021 AFCON finals in Cameroon and is expected in Rwanda this morning.
“It’s good that our squad has a mixture of experienced and young players,” says Hadebe.
“The senior guys have the duty to hand hold the new guys so that they get to settle quickly in the national team set up.
“Above all, what is important is the team performance and not individual performance. And I believe with team work we can do well against Rwanda.”
Meanwhile, Cardiff City midfielder Andy Rinomhota is a doubt for today’s match as he only left Harare last night. He will however, be ready for the Nigeria game on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Rwanda head coach Torsten Frank Spittler yesterday handed late debut call-ups to Belgium-based left-back Hendrick Yves Mutamuliza and striker Thierry Musabyimana to join his squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and South Africa today and Tuesday.
The two players, who ply their trade at Belgian Jupiler Pro League side Racing White Daring Molenbeek and Le Havre U19 respectively, are indirectly filling the void left by Elie Tatou Iradukunda and Yves Mugunga who were dropped from the squad.
Online Reporter