England-based Warriors midfielder Andy Rinomhota has revealed the ambition to qualify the country for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals and doing well at the tournament ahead of the crucial penultimate qualifier against Kenya at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Friday.
The Warriors go into battle needing just a point to book a ticket to the continental championship in Morocco with a match to spare.
Michael Nees will go into the Kenya tie without France – based striker Tino Kadewere who pulled out of the squad due to injury as well as Tawanda Chirewa who is also on recovery path.
Rinomhota has become a vital cog in the Warriors’ engine room in both the World Cup and Afcon qualifiers and is arguably the first name on Nees team sheet in recent matches.
The Cardiff City defensive midfield star says he wants to make Zimbabwe proud at the Africa Cup of Nations.
“Everyone here has the same goal and that is to reach the finals. I think it will be good for everyone for different reasons and for myself just wanting to make the country proud, wanting to progress myself and have opportunities for me and I think for everyone it’s just to make our fans and families back home proud and get as far as we can with Zimbabwe in the competition. We don’t just want to qualify and just be there to compete we want to take it further and go as far as we can,” he said.
“It’s an important game, big one for us to qualify and get to our main goal of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations finals. We have done some good work in the previous camps to get into this position so we are just looking to finish the job against Kenya and qualify and put up a good performance and make fans back home proud and happy and give them something to look forward to next year.
“It’s definitely going to be a tough test, we have played them in the past a few times and it’s been difficult games so we know we should not take them lightly. We are going to give everything we can , preparing as best as we can. The coach is giving us new and ideas and tactics to the game depending on each opponent.
“I think we have got a good foundation because we have been building since I got here and each camp is getting better and better and the players building more chemistry each time so I think it’s onwards and upwards from here. I am sure you have seen with results we have been getting some steps in the right direction and each camp we are looking to build more and more,” Rinomhota said.
The 27-year-old star has formed a formidable partnership with Marshall Munetsi and late Warriors captain Marvelous Nakamba, and will play a vital role against Kenya.
Zimbabwe currently sit in second place on the Group J standings with eight points from five matches, four ahead of Kenya.
Losing against Kenya will make the Warriors’ qualification route more difficult as they will need to get a win in Cameroon or hope that Kenya fail to beat Namibia at home in the finals group matches next week.
The Kenya match may see the return of Munashe Garananga into the Warriors’ fold after missing last month’s qualifiers against Namibia.
Warriors’ Squad
GOALKEEPERS:
Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford), Martin Mapisa (Dynamos)
DEFENDERS:
Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns), Gerald Takwara (Al Minaa SC), Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen), Godknows Murwira (Caps United), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Teenage Hadebe (FC Cincinnati), Jordan Zemura (Udinese)
MIDFIELDERS:
Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town), Marshall Munetsi (Stade de Reims), Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff City), Richard Hachiro (Ngezi Platinum)
FORWARDS:
Khama Billiat (Yadah FC), Tymon Machope (Simba Bhora), Prince Dube (Young Africans), Terrence Dzvukamanja (Supersport United), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell), Daniel Msendami (Marumo Gallants), Walter Musona (Simba Bhora), Douglas Mapfumo (Polokwane City)