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NewsDay

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Mighty warriors to leave this morning

Sport
BUNGLING Zifa were yesterday battling to secure tickets for the Mighty Warriors team’s trip to Cameroon for the 2016 Rio Olympic final qualifier, raising genuine fears that the trip would be aborted.

BUNGLING Zifa were yesterday battling to secure tickets for the Mighty Warriors team’s trip to Cameroon for the 2016 Rio Olympic final qualifier, raising genuine fears that the trip would be aborted.

BY HENRY MHARA

The team was initially scheduled to leave yesterday afternoon, but was still stranded in Harare by evening amid worries that they would not make it for tomorrow’s match in Yaoundé.

However, Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela said told NewsDay Sport last night that everything was now in order and the girls were to leave this morning.

“Things are now in order, the girls will be leaving for Cameroon tomorrow [today] in the morning,” Gwesela said.

A source however said the financially stressed Zifa were trying to negotiate with airlines to be given tickets on credit.

If the team fails to travel, it would be a huge embarrassment to Zifa after they previously failed to send the same team to Ivory Coast in this particular qualifier.

Zifa were fined $10 400 by Fifa for their troubles, but were later given a lifeline to progress to the next round after Ivory Coast pulled out of the qualifiers.

But before Fifa could formally endorse Zimbabwe’s progress to the next round, they asked for a written assurance that Zifa would make available funds to ensure the Mighty Warriors would be able to fulfil the fixtures.

The association made the undertaking that they would provide the funds.

The match is pencilled for the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé with a 5:30pm Zimbabwe time kick-off. The reverse fixtures is scheduled for Harare in two weeks’ time

The winner of the match will qualify for the Rio Olympics finals next year as one of Africa’s two representatives at the showpiece.