AFCON: Zimbabwe star Galloway discusses facing Salah

Zimbabwe national team defender Brendan Galloway has revealed his readiness to stop Mohamed Salah when they face Egypt during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The Warriors will head into the North African tournament pooled in Group B against Salah’s Pharaohs, South Africa, and Angola. Their first match of the AFCON will be against Egypt at Stade Adrar on December 22, Monday.

The 29-year-old Galloway, who features for EFL League One club Plymouth Argyle, admits it will be an exciting challenge to come up against the Liverpool forward.

‘I will be focused to try and stop Salah’

“It’s an exciting challenge and anything can happen,” he told BBC Radio Devon. “If it is me up against him (Salah), I’ll be fully focused on trying my best to stop him.

“Having been born there and grown up there until I was seven, it’s a wholesome moment for my family that now I can go and represent them at a major competition.

“It’s huge, they’re going to be out supporting us massively and we’re really excited for them to come and if they can’t come, back home they’re going to be really supporting us and giving us some good messages.”

On Thursday, Zimbabwe coach Mario Marinică unveiled his final 27-man squad without two of the country’s biggest names, Marshall Munetsi and Khama Billiat, who ruled out of the tournament.

Zimbabwe will open their campaign against Egypt on December 22, before facing Angola on December 26 and South Africa on December 29.

Zimbabwe full squad;

Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants), Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi), Martin Mapisa (MWOS FC).

Defenders: Godknows Murwira (Scottland FC), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos FC), Sean Fusire (Sheffield Wednesday FC), Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen), Gerald Takwara (Al Ittihad Misurata SC, Libya), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bhora FC), Brandon Galloway (Plymouth Argyle FC), Teenage Hadebe (FC Cincinnati), Alec Mudimu (Flint Town United), Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns FC).

Midfielders: Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town FC), Jonah Fabisch (FC Erzgebirg Aue), Andrew Rinomhota (Reading FC), Prosper Padera (SJK Seina Joki), Tawanda Chirewa (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Knowledge Musona (Scottland FC).

Forwards: Bill Antonio (KV Mechelen FC), Ishmael Wadi (CAPS United FC), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell FC), Daniel Msendami (Marumo Gallants FC), Prince Dube (Young Africans SC), Washington Navaya (TelOne FC), Macauley Bonne (Maldon & Tiptree FC), Junior Zindoga (TS Galaxy FC), Tadiwanashe Chakuchichi (Scottland FC).