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Zimbabwe have suffered a key injury blow ahead of their crucial 2025 AFCON qualifier against Harambee Stars in Polokwane.
Zimbabwe national team head coach Michael Nees has confirmed the absence of France-based forward Tinotenda Kadewere due to an injury setback, delivering a blow to the Warriors as they prepare to face Kenya in a crucial 2025 AFCON qualifiers clash.
The Group J encounter, set to take place at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday, holds significant weight, with both teams vying for points to secure their places in the tournament.
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05:32 - 12.11.2024
Michael Olunga: Five goals in his last five games, should Zimbabwe & Namibia be worried?
Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga comes into the November AFCON 2025 qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Namibia in fine form which should give coach Engin Firat plenty of hope.
The Warriors began their training camp in Polokwane, South Africa, on Sunday, with Coach Nees expressing optimism about the squad’s readiness despite the absence of Kadewere, who aggravated an injury during his last game for Nantes.
The injury, which sidelined Kadewere just before the international break, is expected to keep him out of action for the next four weeks.
"We are looking forward to the match, and like in every camp, we have to bring all the players together,” Nees said, addressing the team’s preparations and the phased arrival of players from various leagues around the world.
"We have three groups, and the last group will arrive on Tuesday morning. We hope to get quickly into gear."
Nees emphasized the squad’s unique blend of talent, comprising locally-based players, South African league stars, and players from Europe, as well as representatives from leagues as far afield as Iraq and the United States.
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20:00 - 11.11.2024
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With 34 caps, including two recent appearances, defender Teenage Hadebe of the U.S.-based Houston Dynamo is among the seasoned players expected to bring experience to the squad.
Hadebe featured prominently in last month’s back-to-back victories over Namibia, which boosted Zimbabwe’s chances of qualification.
“We have a good mixture in our team, local, South Africa-based, and those based in Europe,” Nees explained.
“We also have Gerald (Takwara) based in Iraq and Teenage (Hadebe) in the USA. It’s a good mixture as everyone will bring a different element into it.”
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15:58 - 11.11.2024
Why Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat is unhappy with choice of venue for Zimbabwe v Kenya match
Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has expressed his reservations over Zimbabwe’s decision to host their AFCON qualifier against Kenya in South Africa’s northeastern city of Polokwane.
Kadewere’s absence, however, represents a setback, as he was seen as a critical asset in Zimbabwe’s attack.
Despite enduring a goal drought in his recent national appearances, Kadewere has consistently received Nees’ support and was originally included in the squad for both the Kenya and Cameroon fixtures.
His last-minute injury, sustained during Nantes' narrow 2-1 loss where he scored, adds to a list of absences since September.
Without Kadewere, the Warriors will look to in-form striker Walter Musona, who has been in stellar form for Simba Bhora in Zimbabwe’s local league.
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15:30 - 11.11.2024
Write us off at your own peril, warns Harambee Stars midfielder Teddy Akumu ahead of must-win Zimbabwe, Namibia AFCON 2025 qualifiers
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Musona, fresh from securing Simba Bhora’s first Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title, has drawn national attention and is expected to bring his dynamic play to fill the gap left by Kadewere.
His strong form and recent achievements have boosted his confidence, marking him as a key figure as Zimbabwe looks to keep up its momentum.
For Kenya, which currently sits third in Group J with four points, Zimbabwe’s reshuffled attack may offer a glimmer of hope.
Cameroon leads the group with ten points, followed by Zimbabwe with eight points, making Friday’s match a must-win for both Kenya and Zimbabwe.
A loss would complicate Zimbabwe’s qualification campaign as they aim to secure their first AFCON appearance since 2021.
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06:30 - 11.11.2024
Harambee Stars legend backs decision to drop Matasi as he picks which goalkeeper to play against Zimbabwe & Namibia
The former Kenyan international has agreed with Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat’s move on the Kenya Police man while picking his favourite goalkeeper for the upcoming matches.
The Warriors’ training camp in Polokwane has been intensive, with Nees stressing the importance of adapting quickly.
He anticipates that the new faces will bring energy and adaptability, enabling the squad to compensate for Kadewere’s absence.
Hadebe, who also had a challenging match over the weekend for FC Cincinnati in their playoff clash with New York City FC, remains hopeful for a better outcome in the international fixture.
Hadebe missed a decisive penalty in Cincinnati’s 5-6 shootout loss but his national experience is seen as crucial to strengthening Zimbabwe’s defensive setup against Kenya.
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