Zimbabwe will host Zambia in their final Afcon 2021 qualifying match in Group H tonight at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
The Warriors have already qualified to the tournament and their meeting with Chipolopolo is a mere formality as Algeria has booked the other spot from the pool.
Here is everything you need to know about today’s game.
Competition: CAF Afcon 2021 Qualifiers – Matchday 6
Date, Kick-off times & Venue:
29 March, 9 pm CAT at National Sports Stadium in Harare. The match will be played behind closed doors.
TV & Stream Info:
SuperSport TV will not show the game due to broadcasting rights issues at CAF.
National broadcaster, ZBC TV will broadcast the match live across its platforms along with pay-TV service StarTimes.
Soccer24 will post live updates of the match.
Team news:
Coach Zdravko Logarusic will make several changes to the First XI that won in Botswana on Thursday.
Spain-based goalkeeper Martin Mapisa will have his chance to keep goal.
Warriors skipper Knowledge Musona might not take part in the game after picking up a knock in the previous game.
In addition, the captain also picked up a yellow card, and if booked again tonight, he will miss the first game at the AFCON finals, a clue that Logarusic might rest him.
Teenage Hadebe and Jimmy Dzingai also have yellow cards and are likely to be replaced by Malaysia-based Victor Kamhuka and Alec Mudimu while veteran Onismor Bhasera will likely keep his place at left back.
In midfield, there might be a place for AmaZulu’s Butholezwe Ncube, the same applies for Zambia-based Tanaka Chinyahara, while Last Jesi will likely have some minutes too.
Warriors Squad:
Goalkeepers: Ariel Sibanda. Talbert Shumba, Martin Mapisa.
Defenders: Alec Mudimu, Teenage Hadebe, Victor Kamhuka, Takudzwa Chimwemwe, Jimmy Dzingai, Romario Matova, Tendai Jirira, Onismor Bhasera.
Midfielders: Tanaka Chinyahara, Butholezwe Ncube, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Thabani Kamusoko, Knowledge Musona, Tafadzwa Rusike, Last Jesi, Perfect Chikwende, Ovidy Karuru.
Strikers: Evans Rusike, Terrence Dzvukamanja.
Zambia team news:
Chipolopolo coach has retained the whole squad that drew 3-3 versus Algeria on Thursday.
The team arrived in Harare last night and held their first training at the match venue.
Europe-based stars Patson Daka, Enock Mwepu (both Red Bull Salzburg) and Lubambo Musonda who is on the books of Slask Wroclaw in Poland are part of the selection.
Head-to-Head Stats (Last 10 games)
Zimbabwe:
Won: 4
Drew: 3
Lost: 3
Zambia
Won: 3
Drew: 3
Lost: 4
Group H Standings:
