The country’s senior men national soccer team- the Warriors, resume the quest for the maiden appearance at the FIFA World Cup, when they take on Benin in a Group C qualifier at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Thursday evening.
Michael Nees’ charges, who are the home team and are playing in South Africa due to the unavailability of a CAF approved stadium in Zimbabwe, will be hoping to get their first win of the campaign.
The Warriors currently anchor Group C, having amassed two points from their opening four games.
Zimbabwe first played out draws against Rwanda and Nigeria when they were still under the tutelage for Portuguese mentor Baltemar Brito, before they lost to Lesotho and South Africa, under the guidance of Jairos Tapera.
The Warriors will be buoyed by the return of former captain Knowledge Musona, who was a surprise inclusion in the squad announced by Nees last week.
Musona will don the Warriors strip for the first since May 2022, when he announced his decision to end his glittering international career spanning over a decade.
Current captain Marvelous Nakamba, who was initially included in the squad has withdrawn because of injury and was replaced by Ngezi Platinum Stars’ Richard Hachiro.
The locally-based Warriors arrived in Durban yesterday and will conduct their first training session this afternoon.
Winger Khama Billiat, who also returned to the Warriors fold from retirement last year, believes the return of Musona will add value to the team, in terms of both quality and experience.
“Having Knowledge, with his experience, is a great motivation,” said Billiat.
“We have worked with him in the past, and it feels great. It has been a long time waiting for him and finally he’s here.
“We need his experience, and it is going to add a lot (to the team).
A great leader and person, having him. back is going to be a great motivation.”
“We’re taking every game as it comes, we will focus on doing our best. The first one is in SA (against Benin), so we focus on that now.”
