HARARE – Zimbabwe Senior Men’s football team coach Baltemar Brito has named a provisional 27-men squad featuring players born abroad to take part in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Nigeria in a fortnight.
Both matches will be played in Rwanda because Zimbabwe does not have stadiums that meet FIFA standards to host international matches.
Brito’s men will face the hosts on 15 November at Huye Stadium before Zimbabwe, for the first time in the country’s history of taking part international football, become hosts away from home to the Super Eagles of Nigeria four days later at the same venue.
English Premiership side Luton midfielder Marvellous Nakamba, Marshall Munetsi of French side Stade de Reims and striker Tino Kadewere headline the team which also features another veteran Tendayi Darikwa.
But it is the inclusion of such players as English giants Liverpool’s Isaac Mabaya, Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff City), Leon Chiwome (Wolves), Tawanda Masvanhise (Leicester), Tivonge Rushesha (Reading) and Marley Tavaziva (Brentford) that will be on the spotlight as most of them were born abroad and seeking their first caps in Warriors colours.
Commenting on the Warriors’ preparation, former Zimbabwe midfielder and football punter Alois Bunjira said the coach must find the magic to bring the team together in the shortest time possible if he has to produce results.
“Look, this is a completely new team and the fact that we are also coming back to international football after years away makes our situation a bit tricky.
“Brito needs to gel the team fast for results to come, some of the players are coming to Zimbabwe for the first time but football has a global communication,” said Bunjira.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers
Donovan Bernard (Chicken Inn) Washington Arubi (Supersport United), Martin Mapisa (FC Malaga), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford)
Defenders
Peter Muduhwa (Highlanders), Tendayi Darikwa (Apolon Limmasol), Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders) Frank Makarati (Dynamos), Teenage Hadebe (Houston Dynamo) Munashe Garan’anga (Sheriff Traspol), Jordan Zemura (Udinese), Brendon Galloway (Plymouth), Tivonge Rushesha (Reading), Brian Banda (FC Platinum), Marshall Munetsi (Stade de Reims), Marvellous Nakamba (Luton), Gerald Takwara (Ohod), Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff), Isaac Mabaya (Liverpool)
Strikers
Tino Kadewere (Lyon) Walter Musona (FC Platinum), Admiral Muskwe (Exeter City), Prince Dube (Azam) Terrence Dzukamanja (Supersport), Obriel Chirinda (Bulawayo Chiefs), Leon Chiwome (Wolves), Tawanda Masvanhise (Leicester)
