ZIFA to line up friendly for Warriors ahead of Mali showdown

zifaHARARE- Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) are planning to line up international friendlies for the Warriors ahead of the resumption of the fourth round of their do or die African Cup of Nations qualifier against Mali in Harare June 5.

ZIFA chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze revealed that the association had written to a number of countries seeking international friendly matches ahead of the crucial qualifier.

Mashingaidze, however, could not be drawn into revealing the identity of the opponents they are targeting to play the Warriors.

“What I can only confirm is that we have written to a number of countries requesting friendly matches so that we prepare the team for this crucial qualifier against Mali. We need the team to have a good practice match before the game but as of now we do not know who is going to respond positively to our request,” said Mashingaidze. The Warriors were left reeling after losing 1-0 away to Mali in Bamako- a result that left their 2012 African Cup of Nations qualification campaign in danger of unraveling.

The Warriors had collected two points from their first two games following draws away to Liberia and at home to surprise group leaders Cape Verde and needed a win away to Mali to keep their campaign on

track.

But Norman Mapezas men came unstuck as Mali defender Souleymane Diamoutene headed the hosts to victory in the 24th minute.

The Warriors are in third place in Group A having only managed two points from three games. Cape Verde tops the group on seven points followed by Mali with six points and Liberia in fourth place with one

point.

Mapeza’s charges will now have to win all their remaining games –reverse fixtures at home to Mali and Liberia and an away visit to Cape Verde and hope that other results go their way to have any hope of

making it to the finals which will be hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

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