THE Zifa normalisation committee has set its sights on giving an opportunity to all Zimbabwean football talent dotted across the world to represent the country. the Warriors technical has team named five uncapped British-born players in the squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Andy Rinomhota, who plays for championship side Cardiff City, Tivonge Rushesha (Reading), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford), Isaac Mabaya (Liverpool) and Leon Chiwome (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England) are some of the players given the opportunity to represent Zimbabwe.

While exciting Liverpool prospect Mabaya is reportedly injured and others may not be holders of Zimbabwean passports, Zifa feels it’s a positive step towards giving all of the country’s talent a chance.

“Our objective as the normalisation committee is to try and create an environment that identifies all the talented players with a Zimbabwean background across the world.  "To give everyone including those who were not born here, a chance to represent the country. This is just a step towards creating that environment, which will certainly bring all Zimbabweans together to build our football,” Zifa normalisation committee chairman Lincoln Mutasa told Standard Sport.

Mutasa revealed that his office was making frantic efforts to make sure that the players, who were called into the squad had the requisite travel documents in time for the World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Nigeria this month.

“In terms of the World Cup qualifiers everything is almost in place for the matches to take place. Most of the players have confirmed their availability and the office is currently busy trying to make sure that those who do not have passports will get them in time,” he said.

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The Warriors will travel to Rwanda where they play the hosts in the opening World Cup qualifier match on November 15 at the Huye in Butare and will remain there to host Nigeria four days later.

It is Cardiff City midfielderRinomhota, among the new, who is likely to make his debut in the upcoming matches after setting in motion the process to get his papers.

Team Zimbabwe – UK chief executive  Marshall Gore revealed last week on his social media platform that Rinomhota had agreed to play for Zimbabwe and had already applied for a Zimbabwean passport.

“We are thrilled to announce that Cardiff City FC midfielder, Andrew Farai Rinomhota has made a wise decision this week by agreeing to play for the Zimbabwe national team,” he said.

“A big thank you goes out to the Zimbabwe UK embassy for their support in processing Andy and the other players' passport applications. We hope and trust that the registrar general officer will prioritize these applications, considering the circumstances.

“We also want to express our gratitude to Zifa and the national team coaches for recognizing the talent of diaspora players abroad and including them in the provisional squad,” Gore added.

Having turned down the Warriors' call up for several years, Rinomhota expressed his desire to represent the country for the first time last year.

“The time they called me up I was injured. "Since then it would be an issue of applying for a Zimbabwean passport. I haven’t gone around that process yet, but it’s something I will look into,” Rinomhota said as he spoke highly of the Afcon as a platform to showcase one’s skills.

“Afcon is a great platform to showcase your abilities. It’s another experience and another side to my game I could add, getting international experience. I haven’t looked at it too in depth, but I think I’d have to get a Zimbabwean passport.”

Rinomhota was born in Leeds 26 years ago to a Zimbabwean father and British mother.

This season has been a difficult one for the player, who has played four times in all competitions for Cardiff.

Zimbabwe are in Group C of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers, whose other group members are South Africa, Lesotho and Benin.

Warriors provisional squad

Goalkeepers: Benard Donovan (Chicken Inn), Washington Arubi (SuperSport United, South Africa), Martin Mapisa (FC Malaga City, Spain), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford, England).

Defenders: Tendayi Darikwa (Apolon Limassol, Cyprus), Andrew Mbeba, Peter Muduhwa (Highlanders), Frank Makarati (Dynamos), Teenage Hadebe (Houston Dynamo, USA), Munashe Garananga (Sheriff Tiraspol, Moldova), Brendon Galloway (Plymouth Argyle, England), Jordan Zemura (Udinese, Spain), Tivonge Rushesha (Reading, England)

Midfielders: Brian Banda (FC Platinum), Marshal Munetsi (Stade de Reims, France), Andy Rinemhota (Cardiff City, Wales), Marvelous Nakamba (Luton, England), Gerald Takwara (Ohod, Saudi Arabia), Isaac Mabaya (Liverpool, England), Tanaka Shandirwa (Dynamos)

Strikers: Obriel Chirinda (Bulawayo Chiefs), Prince Dube (Azam, Tanzania), Tino Kadewere (Olympique Lyon, France), Admiral Muskwe (Exeter City, England), Walter Musona (FC Platinum), Terrence Dzvukamanja (SuperSport United, South Africa), Leon Chiwome (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Tawanda Maswanhise (Leicester, England)