HARARE - WARRIORS caretaker coach Madinda Ndlovu Ndlovu is expected to name his final squad for the tournament on Thursday. The Warriors gaffer faces a dilemma as he must axe eight players from the 31-man squad before leaving for Sudan where the tournament, exclusively for home-based players, gets underway from February 4-24.
Zimbabwe are in Group B which also features debutants South Africa,
2009 semi-finalists Ghana and Niger.
Apart from axing the eight players, Ndlovu also faces a selection dilemma on the four goalkeepers who are in camp. Assistant Warriors coach Darlington Dodo admitted that they were having a headache over goalkeeper selection. Four goalies, Washington Arubi, Aerial Sibanda, Tafadzwa Dube and Timothy Sibanda are in camp and one has to be dropped before the team leaves for the finals in Sudan.
They are all good goalkeepers but we have to drop one, we are still discussing who to leave behind. But all the players still have a chance to play in the tournament because if one of the players in the final list gets injured we are allowed to replace him. So those who will not make it in the list tomorrow should not lose hope, said Dodo.
The Warriorswill get their campaign underway with a relatively easy game against little known Niger before engaging the Black Stars and will finish their group games against neighbours South Africa.
The members of the technical team have spoken glowingly of the Under
23 national team players in camp, who are all expected to make it into the final squad.
Six Young Warriors stars are in camp — goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, midfielders Denver Mukamba, Archieford Gutu, Joel Ngodzo, Abbas Amidu and highly rated striker Simba Sithole.
Squad: Goalkeepers – W. Arubi (Dynamos), T. Dube (Gunners), T. Sibanda (Hwange) A. Sibanda (Highlanders)
Defenders – D. Kanye (CAPS United), G. Zhokinyi (Dynamos), D. Veremu (Gunners), B.Nyahunzvi (Black Mambas), D. Boriwondo (Hwange), G. Mapemba (CAPS United), Z. Ngodzo (Highlanders), Q. Amin (Gunners), M. Mungadzi (Ziscosteel), A. Chivheya (Lengthens)
Midfielders – C. Chiutsa (Monomotapa), E. Mudzingwa (Highlanders), A. Amidu (Black Mambas), B. Ncube (Motor Action), I. Madziva (Black Mambas), B. Marere (Dynamos), J. Ngodzo (Highlanders), D. Mukamba (Kiglon), T. Sambo (Shooting Stars), A. Gahadzikwa (Motor Action), E. Meleka (Gunners)
Strikers – N. Maroto (Gunners), C. Sibanda (Motor Action), F. Kanda (Highlanders), S. Sithole (Shooting Stars).
Post published in: Football