By MICHAEL MIYOBA
ZAMBIA’S hopes to qualify for the 2022 Cameroon Africa Cup of Nations via the backdoor suffered a major blow when Zimbabwean national team players flaunted their pictures on social media of them travelling to Cameroon for the continental championship.
Zambians who have been starved of the AFCON after the Chipolopolo failed to qualify to three consecutive finals were hoping that Zimbabwe would fail to resolve their disputes between Government and the Zimbabwean Football Federation (Zifa) to attract a FIFA ban.
Fifa had warned Zimbabwe of a possible ban after the Zifa board was suspended by the country’s Sports and Recreation Commission, a body tasked by the government to develop sport in the country.
However Zimbabwe was able to resolve their issues before Warriors coach Norman Mapeza named a final 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon.
The development is a bitter pill to swallow for many Zambians who will just have to support their two neighbours in Zimbabwe and Malawi who will be representing Southern Africa at the tournament scheduled to run from January 9t o February 6 in Cameroon.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will be without a number of key stars due to injury and abrupt international retirement.
Zimbabwe will be without Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba, Tawanda Maswanhise of Leicester City, Reims midfielder Marshal Munetsi and Wigan Athletic’s Tendayi Darikwa who are nursing injuries.
Leading forward Khama Billiat who plays for Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa has also not been included in the AFCON bound squad after he announced last month that he had retired from international football.
The Warriors squad will be led by striker Knowledge Musona, Lyon forward Tinotenda Kadewere and defender Teenage Hadebe, who plays in Major League Soccer with Houston Dynamo.
Left-back Jordan Zemura from English Championship side Bournemouth had been an injury doubt but has been included, along with Leicester-born forward Admiral Muskwe, who plays for Luton Town.
There is also a recall for former Celtic midfielder Kundai Benyu, who now plies his trade in Iceland. He last played for the national team in 2017.
Zimbabwe open their Group B campaign against Senegal on January 10 and will also face Malawi and Guinea in their pool.
No ‘backdoor’ AFCON spot
…as Zimbabwe’s 23-member squad fly to Cameroon
