Innocent Kurira
THE Warriors will get their 2025 Afcon qualifying campaign underway with a clash against Kenya at the Mandela National Stadium in Uganda this afternoon.
Zimbabwe have already played against the Harambee Stars twice this year. Their first duel was at the Four Nations tournament, which Zifa hosted in Malawi. In that Four-Nations tourney, the Warriors were under the interim guidance of FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza when they fell to Kenya 3-1 in the final. The two teams were to meet again at the Cosafa Cup tournament where the Harambee Stars were the guest team in South Africa.
This time, the Warriors were again under an interim coach Jairos Tapera of Manica Diamonds and they still came a cropper against the East Africans, losing 2-0. Warriors star boy Tawanda Chirewa is confident that the team will do well in the two upcoming qualifiers starting with the game this afternoon.
“Just seeing everyone here again has been amazing. It’s something l have been looking forward to and l am happy to be here. We have a new manager, a good coach, someone who has a lot of information on the game and can help us to develop as a team and have a structure in place. So coming to this qualifying campaign, we can do well.
“Every time l go to represent my country it gives me extra gear because it’s something special to me. So going into this game I just hope l get to score and assist and defend as best as l can. I expect us to win games and perform at a high level,” said Chirewa.
Chirewa announced his arrival on the international scene with a dazzling performance in the national senior men’s football team’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against South Africa in June although they went on to lose the game to the hosts. The 20-year-old scored Zimbabwe’s consolation goal in the country’s pitiable 3–1 defeat to Bafana Bafana at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. It was the forward’s second appearance in the national colours after making his debut in another embarrassing 2–0 defeat, just days before the Bafana Bafana clash.
Warriors squad:
Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi, Marley Tavaziva, Donovan Bernard
Defenders: Gerald Takwara, Munashe Garananga, Andrew Mbeba, Godknows Murwira, Emmanuel Jalai, Teenage Hadebe, Farai Banda.
Midfielders: Marshall Munetsi, Andy Rinomhota, Jordan Zemura, Walter Musona, Daniel Msendami, Brian Banda, Tawanda Maswanhise, Tawanda Chirewa, Richard Hachiro, Khama Billiat.
Strikers: Douglas Mapfumo, Prince Dube, Obriel Chirinda.
