ZIMBABWE have confirmed participation in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, but again, the national Under 17 and 20 teams will not be involved in the African Youth Championships qualifiers.
WELLINGTON TONI,SPORTS EDITOR
The Under 20 side is serving a three-year ban for their failure to travel to Angola in 2012-a ban that only ends next year, meaning the junior national team will be content with playing in the regional Cosafa tournament.
Zifa failed to raise $35 000 for the return leg of the match after they had lost 1-0 in Harare and according to Caf rules and regulations, they have to serve a three-year ban and pay a $5 000 fine.
The Under 17 side was not entered for the 2015 finals that will be staged in Niger, according to a Confederation of African Football (Caf) communiqué released yesterday confirming engagements for the three competitions.
The Caf website read yesterday: “The road to Orange Caf Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2015 is about to begin with 51 of the 54 African countries registering to be involved in the qualifiers.
“The Confederation of African Football Executive Committee will meet January 24, 2014 in Cape Town,South Africa, on the sidelines of the Orange Africa Nations Championship (Chan) to decide on the format for the qualifiers. Morocco the host country qualifies automatically.
“Caf also announces the list of countries who have registered to compete in the qualifiers for 2015 Africa U-17 Championship to be held in Niger and the 2015 Africa U-20 Championship to be held in Senegal.”
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The senior national team has only made two appearances in the Afcon finals and came close in the last two editions in 2012 and 2013, falling at the last hurdle.
But with a new coach in charge — Ian Gorowa — and government support being promised by the new Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Andrew Langa, there is a renewed sense of optimism at 53 Livingston Avenue.
Already, the Warriors have qualified for the Chan finals after disposing tough regional champions Zambia.
The Chan finals start on Saturday, but the Warriors will get their Group B campaign underway 24 hours later against Morocco at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.
Langa is also travelling to South Africa for the finals. Xolisani Gwesela, the Zifa communications manager, said the two junior teams had not been entered due to lack of funding.
“We did not register the two teams, but we want to develop those structures through some of the regional competitions like Cosafa and other competitions,” he said yesterday.
It will be a hectic year for the Warriors, as the format adopted by Caf might mean a congested calendar which will also have repercussions on the Premier Soccer League calendar.
The PSL calendar has to accommodate the qualifiers, the NetOne Charity Shield, BancABC Sup8r and the Mbada Diamonds Cup and end on November 30.
This means some of the games will be played midweek like last season to also accommodate broadcaster Supersport.
