The government will try and appeal a decision by FIFA to ban Zimbabwe from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Zimbabwe was left out of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers after failing to pay a debt owed to former Warriors head coach Valinos . The exact figured is $60 000 and saw the Warriors being the only African nation to be left out of draw.

ZIFA has still not settled the debt and are now risking a 2022 World Cup ban as well.

However new Sport and recreation minister Makhosini Hlongwane has outlined plans to appeal the FIFA decision and have Zimbabwe reinstated in the qualifiers.

“It is our aim to make an urgent appeal to FIFA on the suspension said Hlongwane in a statement.

“The FIFA statues provide for an appeal process but ZIFA has not made an appeal and, of course that raises questions of complicity in the decision to have Zimbabwe kicked out of the tournament.

Hlongwane felt the punishment had been too harsh and was confident an appeal could see Zimbabwe included.

Time is running out for the Warriors with the First round of qualifiers set to start this month.

Get news delivered straight to your mobile phone via the Soccer24 app available on the Google Play Store below: