‘Football has evolved and there are no more small teams’
Mugove Chigada
STADE de Reims star Marshal Munetsi believes the ranking system will count for nothing in terms of teams’ strength after the Fifa 2020 World Cup draw.
For that reason, the Warriors midfielder believes Zimbabwe will have an equal chance to qualify for the World Cup if the team plays well.
Zimbabwe, in Pot 3, looks set to face some of the African traditional giants after the draw set for tonight in Egypt.
A total of 40 teams will be placed in 10 groups of four for the second round of Africa’s World Cup qualifying campaign “Any team is tough and for us, it’s more important to focus on ourselves and be prepared for any team that we get,” Munetsi told ZTN on Tuesday from his base in France.
“Football has evolved and there are no more small teams.”
Munetsi, who could be joined by another Zimbabwean Tino Kadewere in French Ligue 1, is one of Zimbabwe’s high profile players.
Zimbabwe also have Marvelous Nakamba at Aston Villa and captain Knowledge Musona on loan at KAS Eupen from Belgium giants Anderlecht, which makes them a formidable force.
They also have ABSA Premiership star Khama Billiat and a number of British-born Zimbabwean players in the Championship and Premier League who have shown eagerness to play for the country.
Belgium based former Warriors left back Cephas Chimedza believes whatever group the Warriors are drawn in will not be easy for them.
“They won’t be in an easy group that’s for sure. I just hope we get at least a team from the CosafaA region in the same group,” Chimedza said.
The Warriors are ranked 27 th on the continent.
Pot one has African champions Algeria, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Tunisia, Mali and DR Congo.
The second pot has South Africa, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Cape Verde, Benin, Gabon and Congo.
Zimbabwe’s pot three has Madagascar, Mauritania, Libya, Mozambique, Central Africa Republic, Namibia, Kenya, Niger and Guinea Bissau. The Warriors will not face opponents from their own group.
Pot 4 has Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Angola, Togo, Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Liberia and Djibouti.
Warriors defender Patson Jaure said: “We are looking forward to qualifying for the first time for the World Cup. This is our chance to make history.”