ZIMBABWE’S senior men soccer team got a morale booster going into next weekend’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) make-or-break qualifier away in Angola after climbing up nine places on the latest Fifa/Coca-Cola World rankings. BY SPORTS REPORTERS
The Warriors moved into 89th spot after memorably beating Angola 3-1 at home last month in the Afcon final round first leg qualifier. Rahman Gumbo’s men also made some significant gains on the Caf rankings, moving from position 25 to 21.
With the loss suffered in Harare, Angola moved three places down the ladder to position 83.
The Warriors players are expected to start trooping into camp on Monday. Chief striker Knowledge Musona and midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha will be part of the crew expected for camp after Gumbo recalled the duo into the team. Musona and Nengomasha, who play for Augsburg in Germany and Bidvest Wits of South Africa respectively, missed the first leg after they received their letters for national duty late.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) referees committee has replaced Madagascar referees Nampiandraza Hamada and first assistant Razafitsatamy Alberto with Kenyan referees for the sink-or-swim 2013 Afcon second leg qualifier between Zimbabwe and Angola in Luanda on October 14.
The Caf referees committee, in a correspondence to the Zimbabwe Football Association and the Angola Football Federation on Monday, cited technical reasons for their decision to replace the referees who had been assigned to handle the match.
The two Madagascan referees officiated in the first leg encounter at Rufaro on September 9.
The Warriors, who carry a 3-1 lead into the second leg, need at least a draw to earn a seat at the Afcon finals table in South Africa in January next year.
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