Marinica names first Zimbabwe squad for Algeria, Qatar friendlies
New Zimbabwe coach Mario Marinica will have a 24-man squad available for his first two matches in charge as the country prepares for next month’s TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals with friendlies against Algeria and Qatar.
Marinica was appointed last week to replace German coach Michael Nees, who was fired after their failure to win any of their FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Warriors will play Algeria on November 13 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, before facing Qatar four days later.
The 27-year-old Washington Navaya is the only newcomer as he heads towards finishing top scorer in the Zimbabwe league this season. With two rounds of fixtures remaining in the campaign, he has 17 goals, two ahead of Scotland’s Tymon Machope.
Machope returns to the squad, as does 20-year-old central midfielder Sean Fusire, who plays in the English Championship for Sheffield Wednesday.
The Finnish-based Prosper Padera is also back, having last month celebrated his 20th birthday, and replaces Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Marshall Munetsi.
Scotland forward Khama Billiat is the other notable absentee from the squad.
Zimbabwe Squad:
Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants, South Africa), Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi, South Africa), Martin Mapisa (Moors World of Sport)
Defenders: Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen, Denmark), Brandon Galloway (Plymouth Argyle, England), Teenage Hadebe (FC Cincinnati, USA), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Godknows Murwira (Scotland), Gerald Takwara (Al Ittihad Misurata, Libya)
Midfielders: Tawanda Chirewa (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Jonah Fabisch (Erzgebirg Aue, Germany), Sean Fusire (Sheffield Wednesday, England), Daniel Msendami (Marumo Gallants, South Africa), Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town, England), Prosper Padera (Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho, Finland), Jordan Zemura (Udinese, Italy)
Strikers: Bill Antonio (KV Mechelen, Belgium), Prince Dube (Young Africans, Tanzania), Tymon Machope (Scotland), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell, Scotland), Knowledge Musona, Walter Musona (both Scotland), Washington Navaya (TelOne).