Tawanda Chirewa confident Zimbabwe will reach AFCON group stage

Zimbabwe international Tawanda Chirewa is oozing with confidence of a good showing during the 2925 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The 35th edition of the AFCON organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), will get underway on December 12. The Warriors have been drawn in a competitive Group B alongside Egypt, Angola and South Africa.

Heading into the AFCON, Zimbabwe have never made it past the group stage. They will make their sixth appearance in Morocco hoping to break their group stage curse and advance into the knockout stages. According to Chirewa, who plays for Premier League outfit Wolves, the Warriors stand a chance of making it past their group.

Asked about Zimbabwe’s chances at AFCON, he said as quoted by Wolves website: “I haven’t really dreamed that far ahead. That’s a long way ahead. That’s at the end of January. All I’m thinking about is that first game against Egypt, trying to visualise that.

“With Egypt, I’ve seen me scoring, I’ve seen us winning, and us going through the group stage. It’s exciting times ahead, and I just can’t wait to get things rolling.”

He added: “Playing for Zimbabwe was a big achievement for me. It’s something I hold really dear to my heart. Some people have said the way I play for them is a different kind of level, which I don’t really agree with, but maybe it’s because it’s a lot more personal to me.

‘We want to show the world how good Zimbabwe is’

“I know that this is something which is important for my family’s name and I want to be a great player for Zimbabwe, I want to be a legend for Zimbabwe, and this is something which I’m eager to do, and something which I really believe I can do.

“AFCON is a big step in that, and if I can help us to go as far into the tournament as I can, I know that I’ll be one step closer to achieving what I want to achieve for my country.”

Chirewa concluded: “We talk about AFCON a lot. He’s given me little insights on how it will be, but I’m buzzing for it. I believe that we’re going to shock a lot of countries and shock a lot of people with how we’re going to do, so I’m just trying to get myself as ready as I can.

“I know that this tournament is my first major tournament that I will have played in, so I just want to show the world how good Zimbabwe is.”

The Warriors, who will be based in Marrakech, will kick off their campaign against Pharaohs next Monday at the 45,000-capacity Grand Stade d’Agadir in the coastal city of Agadir.

Their matchday two will be against Angola on Boxing Day at the Grand Stade de Marrakech before concluding the group stage against South Africa at the same venue on December 29.