dyton mupawaenda
Fungai Muderere-Senior Sports Reporter
THE Warriors will get their 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign with an away fixture against Kenya in September.
The senior national football team were drawn into Group J of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers with Kenya, Cameroon and Namibia.
After taking on Kenya, Zimbabwe will battle against Cameroon in another fixture that will be played in September.
Zimbabwe’s third match of the campaign will be against Namibia before playing host to the same opponents in back-to-back fixtures that will take place between October 7 and 15.
Between November 11 and 19, the Warriors will face Kenya at home before taking on Cameroon in their own backyard.
Interim coach Jairos Tapera, who last Tuesday watched his Warriors being booted out of the COSAFA Cup contest by Kenya, has insisted on the need for ideal preparations.
“There should be no short-cuts. It all needs a collective effort, it’s a national team and everyone should play his part. Preparations are the core.
“It’s a fairly good draw, it all depends on having enough time to prepare. That’s the basis of everything. Given the opportunity we will have to start our preparations today.”
Former Warriors gaffer Joey Antipas reckoned:
“We are in a tough group. We will need to work around the clock. We can get it right against Kenya and Namibia. Cameroon are a difficult team, as such we will need to summon all our energies.
“It’s unfortunate that we are not going to enjoy home advantage as we do not have stadia to host international matches.
“However, it’s all the best to those who are going to represent us and we should seek to guard against dropping points home and away.”
Online Reporter