Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
WARRIORS coach, Michael Nees is this Thursday expected to announce the senior national team players for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda.
Zimbabwe will face Benin on September 5 before hosting Rwanda on September 9 at Orlando Stadium in South Africa.
The squad could feature several new faces who have been performing well in recent months.
MWOS central midfielder, Abubakar Moffat, has been a revelation since joining the Norton-based club mid-season from Spain.
The 27-year-old Aces Youth Soccer Academy product who is gifted with a wicked left foot, has not only bossed the midfield but has an eye to thread penetrative passes.
He might have joined MWOS in their bad patch, but he certainly has been top-notch.
FC Platinum’s Jarrison Selemani is one player who is just starting to play to his potential after terrorising defenders with his speed and skill.
The 25-year-old winger, another Aces product is just a speed-star but boasts of accuracy and precision on top of being a dead-ball specialist.
Selemani has predominantly been deployed in a wide attacking role but is also comfortable playing behind the front man.
Another player, who has consistently been overlooked for the national team is Simba Bhora attacking midfielder Emmanuel Ziocha.
With 14 assists this season, he is way ahead of the rest in the creative statistics on top of the four goals he has contributed.
Ziocha is thriving in Shamva after leaving Dynamos and showing his full range of skills that include dribbling, vision and close ball control.
Scottland’s Tymon Machope, a predator in the box, Highlanders’ Mason Mushore composed central midfielder, exuberant CAPS United midfielder Tanaka Shandirwa are some of the fringe players who now need to nail down a place in the squad.
The Musona brothers, Knowledge and Walter, Starman Khama Billiat, and forward Terrence Dzukamanja are proven stars at international level and should make the squad barring any fitness issues.
Outside of the country’s borders, young Prosper Padera deserves a call-up after successfully auditioning at the COSAFA tournament, while Tawanda Maswanhise has started off where he left off last season in the Scottish Premier League.
Tawanda Chirewa, with three goals, the most for the Warriors in the current World Cup and AFCON qualifiers warrants his place despite not being a favourite of coach Michael Nees.
With Zimbabwe having slim chances of qualification, it remains to be seen if captain Marvelous Nakamba will be called up after returning from a long-term injury.
Vice-captain, Marshall Munetsi of English Premier League side Wolves and other battle-hardened stars like Gerald Takwara, Teenage Hadebe and Devine Lunga are expected to be called up.
