Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE will play Nigeria in their next match in the 2026 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers Group C which will be played at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo Nigeria tomorrow.
Kick-off will be at 6pm.
The Warriors left Durban, South Africa on Friday where they hosted Benin and drew 2-2 last Thursday.
The team arrived in Nigeria on Saturday afternoon.
No changes were made to the squad that played Benin in what can be described as a tale of two halves as Michael Nees’ mentored side showed character after an early setback.
The Warriors suffered a challenging start conceding two early goals in the opening minutes. However, stand-in captain Marshall Munetsi, in great and breath-taking fashion, pulled one back just before half-time to resuscitate his team’s optimisms.
In the second stanza, former Warriors captain Knowledge Musona, who came out from international game retirement, stepped up to score the crucial equaliser.
Zimbabwe dominated possession in the latter stages, creating several opportunities but failed to score.
The draw meant the Warriors are now on three points after five matches while Benin moved up to eight points.
The country’s flagship football team will need a strong finish in their remaining fixtures if they are to keep their thin and wanting qualification hopes alive.
The Super Eagles will provide a hard-hitting test but the Warriors will take confidence from their brave performance against Benin.
The Warriors’ World Cup Qualifiers campaign kicked off in 2023 with former Highlanders former head coach Baltermar Brito who recorded two draws against Rwanda (0-0) and Nigeria (1-1) as an interim head coach.
This was followed up by two defeats against Lesotho and South Africa last year when the team was under Manica Diamonds coach Jairos Tapera.
“In our last match (against Benin), we really fought hard. There was great team spirit and I think we have to continue from where we left. We will need to get maximum points against Nigeria,” said Munetsi.
Last Thursday’s match was the first World Cup Qualifier tie for Nees who was appointed last year in July before guiding the Warriors to qualify for the 2025 Morocco Afcon.
The Warriors have local talent that comprise former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs deadly forward Khama Billiat with teammates at Scottland FC Peter Muduhwa, Godknows Murwira, Mthokozisi Msebe, Tymon Machope and sharp shooting Walter Musona.Other local premiership players that were drafted into the national team are Martin Mapisa (MWOS FC), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bhora) and Emmanuel Jalai from Dynamos.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has warned his team ahead of their match against Zimbabwe.
Both sides are looking to revive their qualification chances after a slow start to the campaign.
Nigeria are fourth with six points while the Warriors are sitting at the bottom with three points.
Chelle, who was appointed Super Eagles’ head coach in January and took charge of his first game against Rwanda on Thursday, warned his team to be ready for Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe Warriors Squad:
Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford), Martin Mapisa (MWOS FC)
Defenders: Jordan Zemura (Udinese), Divine Lunga (Sundowns), Gerald Takwara (Al Minaa SC),Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bhora), Peter Muduhwa (Scottland), Godknows Murwira (Scottland), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos)
Midfielders: Marshall Munetsi (Wolverhampton), Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff City), Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town), Mthokozisi Msebe (Scottland), Khama Billiat (Scottland), Knowledge Musona (Al-Okhdood), Tawanda Chirewa (Huddersfield Town)
Forwards: Prince Dube (Young Africans), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell), Terrence Dzvukamanja (Supersport United), Tymon Machope (Scottland), Walter Musona (Scottland). — @FungaiMuderere
