AFCON: Scottish side braces for Zimbabwe star Tawanda Maswanhise exit

Scottish William Hill Premiership side Motherwell FC have been warned that it would be impossible for them to keep Zimbabwe star Tawanda Maswanhise.

Speaking to the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast, Celtic legend Cillian Sheridan said the 23-year-old’s sparkling displays for the Warriors at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) would attract top teams.

The towering forward scored for Mario Marinica’s side during their 2-3 loss to rivals South Africa in Morocco in a Group B match on Monday.

Did the Zimbabwe star score AFCON’s best goal?

Maswanhise’s goal for Zimbabwe built on his good club form having scored 12 goals for the Fir Park side this season. This prompted Sheridan to predict the striker’s move to a bigger league in Europe.

“They’ll genuinely be lucky to keep a hold of him,” Sheridan said. “The start he’s had, the goals he’s scored and he’s continuing to do it at international level in a big tournament. So, it’ll be interesting if they can hold on to him in January, I think.

“My guess would be that [it] would be a club outside Scotland. It’s good that he’s done it for Motherwell in the Scottish league, but the fact he’s doing it at a major tournament probably will alert bigger clubs in different leagues. So, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him leave the country and leave the league.”

How Maswanhise performed at AFCON

The exciting forward scored probably a goal of the tournament underway in Morocco.

He sliced through Bafana Bafana’s defence like a hot knife on butter before firing past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. Maswanhise, making a rare start, brought the two teams level after Divine Lunga’s effort had given Hugo Broos’ men the lead.

Meanwhile, Maswanhise has since returned to Motherwell just in time before they face St Mirren in the William Hill Premiership on Saturday, 3 January.

“Tawanda Maswanhise has returned to Scotland following Zimbabwe’s elimination from Africa Cup of Nations, with Motherwell’s top scorer eligible for selection once again,” the club’s statement reads.

The Warriors star is Motherwell FC’s leading league scorer so far.