Marinica confident Zimbabwe can leave mark at AFCON

Despite numerous setbacks including lack of preparations, Zimbabwe coach Marian Marinica is confident the Warriors will can do what hasn’t been achieved before when they step on the pitch to start their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign in Morocco.

The Warriors have been drawn in Group B alongside alongside seven-time champions Egypt, regional rivals South Africa, and Angola.

“I always say to people, when you qualify for something, you go there with your own chances, so we have to make the most of our chances,” said Marinica as quoted by News Day. Now we have to fight for everyone in the country, to make sure that we don’t go there to participate, we go there to win.”

‘We had this setback with CAF and with ZIFA’

However, the coach admitted their preparations have not 100 percent. He said: “We also had players who, recently, they are not been playing that much at their clubs. At the same time, we had, unfortunately, this setback with CAF and with ZIFA, which we had planned to get together on the 8th.

“Unfortunately, that has not happened, and now we have only local players, and some players, particularly from South Africa, who were able to come, and some others from Europe, but not too many.”

He added: “So, we have almost 10 players that will have to meet in Morocco, and we’re going to have only one training session on the 19th… It looks like from 16th to 29th, plenty of days.

“Unfortunately, we only have two training sessions allocated. But it is what it is, we believe in our cause. We believe that we can do what hasn’t been achieved before.”

Despite the problems, Marinica is confident: “To think fast, act fast, move fast, be well-prepared and organised, we must have a clear strategy, players to understand exactly their roles and responsibilities in a match.”

He concluded: “I would like, as much as possible, to stay behind us, forget about the noise, whatever it is, let’s focus together to achieve what we want to achieve. We will give you 100% of what we can on the pitch, and we want, you know, as much as possible, to support us 100%.”

The Warriors will kick off their campaign against Egypt in Agadir on December 22.

Zimbabwe AFCON 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 Seinäjoki)
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)