Sports Correspondent
Zimbabwe senior men’s football team coach Ramon Catalá has named a 34-member squad for the Warriors’ opening two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The squad, announced on Saturday, marks Catalá’s first selection since taking over as Warriors coach and includes a mixture of experienced internationals, locally based players and a number of Zimbabweans playing abroad.
Among the notable inclusions are Liverpool youngster Isaac Mabaya, Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Sean Fusire and TS Galaxy forward, Junior Zindoga.
Mabaya, 21, was born in Preston and joined the Liverpool academy as a six-year-old. He can play as a right-back or in midfield and has previously represented England at youth level. His inclusion represents a significant addition to Catalá’s first Warriors squad.
Zindoga, meanwhile, earns a call-up after his involvement with South African Premiership side TS Galaxy, while AmaZulu striker Thando Ngwenya is another new face in the attacking department.
The squad also retains several established Warriors stars, including captain Marvelous Nakamba, Marshall Munetsi, Jordan Zemura, Tino Kadewere, Prince Dube and Knowledge Musona.
The 34 players selected are:
Goalkeepers
- Elvis Chipezeze — Magesi
- Nelson Chadya — Scottland
- Martin Mapisa — Hardrock
- Marley Tavaziva — Unattached
Defenders
- Jordan Zemura — Watford
- Divine Lunga — Mamelodi Sundowns
- Munashe Garananga — Lyngby BK
- Corbin Mthunzi — Ipswich Town
- Shane Maroodza — Sarajevo
- Sean Fusire — Sheffield Wednesday
- Brendan Galloway — Unattached
- Emmanuel Jalai — Scottland
- Kevin Moyo — Scottland
- Peter Muduhwa — Scottland
- Isaac Mabaya — Liverpool
Midfielders
- Marshall Munetsi — Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Andy Rinomhota — Reading
- Abubakar Moffat — Scottland
- Marvelous Nakamba — Panetolikos
- Prosper Padera — SJK
- Knowledge Musona — Scottland
- Mongameli Tshuma — Highlanders
- Tawanda Chirewa — Wolverhampton Wanderers
Forwards
- Tawanda Maswanhise — Motherwell
- Prince Dube — Hardrock
- Tino Kadewere — Aris Thessaloniki
- Thando Ngwenya — AmaZulu
- Bill Antonio — KV Mechelen
- Daniel Msendami — Orlando Pirates
- Ishmael Wadi — CAPS United
- Junior Zindoga — TS Galaxy
The Warriors will begin their Group E campaign against Sierra Leone on 24 September, with kick-off scheduled for 9pm CAT. They will then host DRC on 28 September at 6pm CAT. CAF has confirmed the dates and kick-off times, although the venues were still to be officially confirmed at the time of the announcement.
Sierra Leone could be forced to play the first match outside the country because of difficulties securing a CAF-approved stadium, with Liberia reportedly emerging as a possible alternative venue. Zimbabwe’s home match against DRC is expected to be played at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, which has recently received CAF Category 3 approval.
Zimbabwe are in Group E alongside DRC, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea, with the top two teams qualifying for the AFCON finals in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in 2027.
