ZIMBABWE get their Africa Cup of Nations 2015 qualifiers preparations underway this afternoon when they play Malawi in an international friendly match at Kamuzu Stadium with coach Ian Gorowa eager to find a team that will take the Warriors to the bi-annual tournament.
WELLINGTON TONI SPORTS EDITOR
Having missed out on the last editions in 2010, 2012 and 2013, the Warriors are ranked 32 in the qualifying system released by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) last month and will start their Afcon 2015 qualifiers in the second round in May.
The second round, first legs will be played on the weekend of 16-18 May and the return on May 30-1 June.
The Warriors can play, among other countries, Botswana, Swaziland, Chan holders Libya, Uganda, Mozambique, Congo and Benin.
Fourteen teams will make it to the third round where they will also engage in two-legged contests on 18-20 July and 1-3 August to leave seven teams. These seven teams will join the top-seeded 21, who include reigning champions Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Zambia, Angola, Egypt, South Africa and Cameroon to take part in the group phases.
There will be 14 winners here; the third-best placed team the hosts Morocco for next year’s finals that will be staged in the cities of Tangier, Agadir, Rabat and Marrakech from January 17 to February 7. The group phases will be played on these dates: September 5-6 and 10, October 10-11 and 15, November 14-15 and 19.
Apart from the African Nations Championships (Chan) stars, Gorowa has called up the Kaizer Chiefs trio of hitmen Knowledge Musona and Kingston Nkhatha and defensive midfielder Willard Katsande.
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Musona has scored six goals in the Absa Premiership this season and was also on target in Zimbabwe’s 2-1 win over South Africa in the last friendly in November with a stunning volley. Nkhatha has five goals to his name.
The pair will get the much-needed game time ahead of Chiefs’ Champions League first round, second leg against Liga Muculmana of Mozambique at the Zimpeto Stadium in Maputo on Saturday. Musona also scored in the 4-0 in first leg last weekend.
The other international is goalkeeper Washington Arubi who plays for AmaTuks in the Absa Premiership and is likely to take the number one spot ahead of Caps United goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube. AmaZulu star defender Carlington Nyadombo is also part of the team — a reward for his consistence at the Durban — based side.
Missing is left wing back Costa Nhamoinesu, who plays for Sparta Prague in the Czech top flight and has been in form for a defender, starting 16 matches before the mid-season break and scoring thrice.
But that should not be a headache for Gorowa as he has enough arsenal from the Chan squad that includes defenders Eric Chipeta, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Milton Ncube and Gift Bello, who is set to earn his first cap.
Danny Phiri, an unsung hero at Chan, Peter Moyo, poster boy Kuda Mahachi, Pasca Manhanga and Ali Sadiki, also made the trip, making the Warriors a competitive outfit for this match which also has an effect in the world rankings to be released later this month.
Today’s game will be the first for newly appointed coach Young Chimodzi and his assistant Jack Chamangwana. Chimodzi has called up his son Young Chimodzi Jnr, former Caps United and Orlando Pirates midfielder Joseph Kamwendo and Ishmael Thindwa.
Thindwa will be on the books of Caps United this season. Bloemfontein Celtic’s Gabaninho Mhango is also part of the team together with Robert Ng’ambi of Platinum Stars and Moses Chavula, who also plays in South Africa.
