HARARE - The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has failed to secure anWarriors coach Norman Mapeza has been hoping to prepare his team for
the make-or-break African Cup of Nations qualifier
against Mali in Harare on June 5 with a practice match.
However, ZIFA chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze told The
Zimbabwean that the
association, which had written to a number of countries seeking international
friendly matches ahead of the crucial qualifier, had failed to secure
a match.
“It’s sad that we have failed to secure a friendly match for the
national team,” said Mashingaidze. “We had written to a number of
countries but could not get a favourable response. The coaches will
have to find the best way of preparing the team because there is
nothing we can do.”
ZIFA’s failure to get an international friendly match on a day when
all the other countries will be involved in friendly matches has been
attributed to the match-fixing allegations which have seen the
Warriors’ ranking plunging to an all time low.
The Warriors’ 1-0 defeat away to Mali in Bamako has left their 2012 African Cup of Nations qualification
campaign in danger of unraveling after having collected two points
from their first two games following draws away to Liberia and at home to surprise group leaders
Cape Verde.
The Warriors are in third place in Group A .Cape Verde top the group
on seven points followed by Mali with six points and Liberia in fourth place with one
point.
Post published in: Football