Thirty teams are in the hat and Zimbabwe are one of the unseeded teams and could face defending champions Zambia or the likes of Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Sudan and Tunisia who are in the same pool A.
Zimbabwe are in pool B alongside Botswana, Cape Verde Islands, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Uganda.
Although assistant coach David Mandigora has said they are not scared of facing the big guns of African football Ivory Coast and Ghana, Zimbabwean football fans do not share his sentiments and are hoping Zimbabwe will be drawn against one of the lightweights.
In fact, most Zimbabweans are preferring that Zimbabwe draw the Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya or Sudan whom they believe Zimbabwe can overcome.
Dynamos fan Tendai Muchena says he would love facing the Equatorial Guinea. “I don’t think we stand a chance against most of the teams. But Equatorial Guinea, I think we can overcome,”says Muchena.
Soccer reporter Jabes Lefani says Zimbabwe’s display against Burundi does not give much hope against the heavyweights adding that he would prefer Zimbabwe facing one of the hosts of the 2012 Nations Cup, Gabon or the Equatorial Guinea.
Highlanders follower, Simbai Mahachi was straight to the point saying the likes of Ghana are too strong for the Warriors and added he would love to see the Warriors play Sudan or Libya.
However, teams do not choose whom to play and Zimbabwe should live with what will come out of the hat even if it means facing the Elephants, the Black Stars, Chipolopolo, or the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
Record seven-time champions Egypt are the shock absentees from the draw. The Pharaohs, whose seven titles include an unequalled three in a row between 2006 and 2010, were ousted by the Wild Beasts from the Central African Republic last weekend.
Hosts South Africa are automatic qualifiers for the finals to be held from January 19 to February 10
Post published in: Football