HARARE – Zimbabwe coach Zdravko Logarusic, is expected to announce the squad for the decisive final two AFCON qualifiers next month against neighbors Botswana and Zambia.
Zimbabwe will play Botswana in Gaborone, on March 25, in the penultimate round of the qualifiers before hosting Zambia, at the National Sports Stadium, four days later.
The Cosafa trio are competing for the remaining sole ticket, from the group, as current Afcon champions, Algeria, have already qualified for the next tournament in Cameroon next year.
Botswana already announced their squad for the tie, dominated by local-based players.
Zimbabwe coach Logarusic was scheduled to name the provisional team last week but, he delayed his move, waiting for ZIFA to get feedback from English clubs, on the availability of some players.
Key players, like Tendayi Darikwa, Marvelous Nakamba, Jordan Zemura and Adam Chicksen, who are based in England, could be affected by regulations related to preventing the spread of COVID-19.
National team manager, Wellington Mpandare, confirmed Logarusic will announce the squad this week.
“The squad will be announced on Tuesday,” the manager was quoted.
“The announcement was supposed to be done last week but we delayed hoping to get feedback from English clubs about the availability of some of the players we are hoping to get.
“There is hope that we will get the feedback this week but we have resolved to name an enlarged squad of over 30 players in the provisional squad.
“If we can’t get the players from England then their places will be filled by those we would have named in the provisional team on Tuesday,” said Mpandare.
Loga is facing another headache, with no clear indications that all players based overseas will make it for the ties especially talisman Knowledge Musona who is still out with an injury.
Mpandare revealed that players will start checking in for camp on March 22.
Zimbabwe are second in the AFCON qualifying race, on five points, five behind Algeria.
Botswana are in third place, with four points, while Zambia anchors the group on three points.
Zimbabwe can seal qualification if they win against Botswana away and Zambia lose at home to Algeria, in the next round of fixtures, which will render the last group matches mere dead-rubbers.
