The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has cleared the air on the expulsion of Warriors vice captain Marshall Munetsi from the final squad to represent the country at the upcoming AFCON 2025 finals.
Munetsi, who plays for English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, was a surprise omission, from the final squad announced by head coach Maria Marinica this week.
A statement released by ZIFA on the matter reads: “The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) issues this statement to outline the circumstances
“The Zimbabwe Football Association issues this statement surrounding the non-selection of Mr. Marshall Munetsi for the Warriors squad submitted for theAfrica Cup of Nations (AFCON), in accordance with applicable CAF regulations and the FIFAClub Protection Programme (2023–2026).
“ZIFA maintained official, continuous, and fully documented communication with Mr. MarshallMunetsi’s club regarding his medical condition and availability for international duty. These engagements were conducted formally and in strict compliance with CAF competition regulations and FIFA frameworks governing player release, insurance coverage, and institutional duty of care.
“Concurrently, the Head Coach maintained open and direct communication with Mr. Marshall Munetsi, ensuring that the player was fully informed throughout the process.
“This approach reflected ZIFA’s commitment to transparency, coordination, and respect for the player, while aligning the technical, medical, and administrative arms of the Association.
“Player health and welfare remain ZIFA’s overriding priority. Medical information formally provided by the club confirmed that Mr. Marshall Munetsi was managing an injury at the time final squad decisions were being made.
“Under the FIFA Club Protection Programme, injuries existing at the commencement of international duty fall outside automatic insurance coverage unless strict procedural and medical conditions are satisfied, including formal clearance and risk mitigation documentation .
“Following Mr. Marshall Munetsi’s expressed willingness to represent Zimbabwe despite the injury, ZIFA formally requested a written letter of consent and a liability waiver from his club.
“This documentation is a critical prerequisite under the FIFA Club Protection Program, which governs compensation, insurance exposure, and liability management where professional players, particularly those carrying injuries, are released for international “A” matches.
“Mr. Marshall Munetsi was duly advised that the required club consent and liability waiver had not been received and was kept informed of the status of this process. However, by the timethe CAF deadline for AFCON squad submission was reached, the mandatory documentation remained outstanding.
“In the absence of these clearances, ZIFA could not lawfully, responsibly, or ethically include Mr. Marshall Munetsi in the final squad, as doing so would haveexposed both the Association and the player’s club to uninsured risk and regulatory non-compliance under the FIFA Club Protection Programme
“As a result, the Head Coach was left with no alternative but to proceed with players who were fully fit, medically cleared, insured, and procedurally eligible, in strict adherence to CAF squad-submission requirements and FIFA player protection frameworks.
“ZIFA places on record its deep appreciation for Mr. Marshall Munetsi, whose professionalism, leadership, and exemplary service to the Warriors over many years are held in the highest regard.
“He has consistently represented Zimbabwe with distinction and pride and remains a valued member of the national football family. The Association looks forward to his continued contribution once he is fully fit and medically cleared.
“ZIFA further categorically exonerates the Secretariat, including Mr Kudzai Chitima, who over the years or over a period of time has been a target of abuse on social media over a range of misplaced and uninformed utterances such as team selection, player passports, and recently this issue.
“Secretariat officials do not make technical team selection decisions and act professionally, lawfully, and strictly within their administrative mandates. The Association strongly condemns the hate mail, threats, and personal attacks directed at officials and notes that such conduct is unacceptable and will be escalated to the appropriate law-enforcement authorities.
“ZIFA reiterates unequivocally that Mr. Marshall Munetsi’s non-selection was purely medical,procedural, and regulatory, guided by player welfare imperatives, CAF competition rules, and the FIFA Club Protection Programme, without malice, bias, or administrative impropriety.
“Finally, ZIFA calls upon the football-loving public to remain united and to fully support the Warriors as they represent the nation at AFCON in Morocco.”
