Zemura Out Of Bafana, Ethiopia Ties

Tadious Manyepo

Warriors utility player Jordan Zemura has been ruled out of the two remaining 2022 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Ethiopia next week due to an injury.

Zimbabwe play Bafana Bafana in a qualifier reduced to a dead-rubber at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Thursday before they host Ethiopia at the National Sports Stadium three days later.

While the team is already without some of the stars including captain Knowledge Musona, Teenage Hadebe, Marshal Munetsi and Tino Kadewere, it is the absence of the Bournemouth star Zemura which has dealt a blow to Norman Mapeza’s charges.

Zemura suffered a sprained ankle in his team’s match against Reading last Saturday and had to be replaced 70 minutes into the tie.

He has since been ruled out for six weeks by his club, making him unavailable for the two fixtures against South Africa and Ethiopia.

ZIFA this afternoon announced a 25-man squad without the star.

Mapeza has recalled Scotland-based David Moyo and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Devine Lunga having dropped them in the previous two games.

McCauley Bonne and Jonah Fabisch have also been included in the team.

Zimbabwe are already out of contention after picking a single point in the opening four rounds and are nine points behind leaders South Africa.

The 2022 World Cup will be staged in Qatar.

Squad
Goalkeepers

Petros Mhari (FC Platinum), Taimon Mvula (Dynamos), Donovan Benard (Chicken Inn)

Defenders
Devine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns) Tendayi Darikwa (Wigan), Brendan Galloway (Plymouth), Takudzwa Chimwemwe (Nkana), Peter Muduwa (Highlanders), Godknows Murwira (Dynamos) Alec Mudimu (Torpedo Kutaisi)

Midfielders
Marvellous Nakamba (Aston Villa), Gerald Takwara (Venda Football Academy), Kelvin Madzongwe (FC Platinum), Farai Madanhanga (Marumo Gallants), Blessing Sarupinda (Sekhukhune), Tawanda Maswanhise (Leicester), Thabani Kamusoko (ZESCO Utd), Jonah Fabisch (Hamburger SV), Kuda Mahachi (SuperSport Utd), Ishmael Wadi (JDR Stars), Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs)

Strikers
David Moyo (Hamilton Academical), Knox Mutizwa (Lamontville Golden Arrows), McCauley Bonne
(Ipswich Town)