Zimbabwe’s national football team, the Warriors, are facing a series of setbacks as they prepare for their double-header against Namibia in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifiers. Head coach Michael Nees is grappling with multiple player withdrawals, forcing him to reassess his squad ahead of these pivotal matches.
The Zimbabwean team, still in search of their first win in the AFCON 2025 qualification campaign, has been hit by a string of injuries to key players.
The most notable absentee is Derby County’s midfielder Tawanda Chirewa, who has been sidelined with an injury and is expected to be out for at least four weeks.
Chirewa’s absence was confirmed after he missed his club’s weekend fixture, and his participation in the international break is now deemed impossible.
Adding to Nees’ concerns are FC Nantes striker Tino Kadewere and FC Copenhagen defender Munashe Garananga.
Both players have yet to resume full training with their respective clubs, raising doubts about their availability for the upcoming matches.
Kadewere and Garananga, although not officially ruled out, are unlikely to recover in time to join the national team, further complicating Nees’ preparations.
The Zimbabwe squad is currently in a training camp, which began on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
The local contingent, alongside members of the coaching staff, has travelled to South Africa to kick-start preparations for the crucial fixtures.
The squad is expected to be bolstered in the coming days by international players, including midfielders Marshall Munetsi and Marvelous Nakamba, both of whom are anticipated to join the group shortly.
Despite the setbacks, the Warriors are determined to secure their first win in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers.
The team has so far recorded two goalless draws in their opening fixtures, against Kenya and Cameroon, respectively.
The upcoming double-header against Namibia presents a crucial opportunity for Zimbabwe to strengthen their position in the qualification group and keep their hopes alive of reaching the continental tournament in Morocco.
Coach Nees remains hopeful that the squad can rise to the occasion despite the injuries.
“We know these absences are a challenge, but the team is prepared, and we’ll do everything to get the results we need,” Nees remarked during a recent press conference.
The coach is expected to make adjustments to the roster in the coming days, potentially calling up additional players to fill the void left by the injured stars.
The Warriors will face Namibia twice in quick succession, first on October 10 and again on October 14.
Both fixtures are critical to Zimbabwe’s campaign, as they currently sit in a precarious position in their group.
With back-to-back draws so far, a victory in one or both of these matches would provide a much-needed boost to their qualification chances.
Zimbabwe’s fans will be hoping that the team can overcome these hurdles and deliver strong performances, even in the absence of key players.
All eyes will be on Coach Nees as he navigates this challenging period and attempts to guide the Warriors toward a successful AFCON 2025 qualification campaign.
