Zimbabwe's Warriors travel to Rwanda for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

TAKUDZWA HILLARY CHIWANZA

HARARE – The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) said on Friday that the men's national team, the Warriors, and their technical staff will today fly to Rwanda for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Image: @online_zifa/X

The Warriors will face Rwanda on November 15 and Nigeria on November 19 in Group B of the second round of the African qualifiers.

The squad includes eight locally-based players: Tanaka Shandirwa, Frank Makarati, Donovan Bernard, Walter Musona, Obriel Chirinda, Peter Muduhwa, Andrew Mbeba, and Brian Banda. They will be joined by Saudi-based midfielder Gerald Takwara and other foreign-based players from November 13, ZIFA said.

The football body also thanked the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ) for donating travel gear, including t-shirts and rain jackets, to the Warriors.

ZIFA normalisation committee member and former Mighty Warriors captain Rosemary Mugadza, who received the donation from FUZ, said: "We are grateful for the donation that we have received from FUZ. Thank you for coming on board, we appreciate this gesture. Let's keep the partnership growing each and every year. We plead with the corporate world to come and partner ZIFA in this journey."

Former Warriors captain Peter Ndlovu also sent a message of support to the team, urging them to "think of the badge".

"Think of the badge. Commitment is key. We want the boys to perform well and re-introduce themselves onto the international football scene," Ndlovu said.