AFTER their 2-2 draw with Algeria in their opening 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Group B match at Stade de Franceville this week, Zimbabwe will go on an all out attack against group leaders Senegal tonight (9pm).
Many football pundits believe the Warriors deserved the win against Algeria, but they were let down by poor finishing.
Tonight they face a side with an appetite for goals which equals their own, with Senegal fresh off a 2-0 win against Tunisia in their first match.
Mzansi football lovers will be cheering for their PSL stars among the Warriors.
PSL top players Khama Billiat, Willard Katsande, Kudwakashe Mahachi, Onismor Bhasera and Cuthbert Malajila will hope to come to the party against the dangerous Senegalese.
Nyasha Mushekwi and Matthew Rusike, who once earned their living in the SA league, will most probably feature tonight.
Zimbabwe will still be without the injured ex-Kaizer Chiefs forward Knowledge Musona, who pulled a hamstring in the opening match and looks to be out of the competition, says the medical team.
Coach Calisto Pasuwa’s match intelligence will be put to the test tonight, as defeat would hand Senegal a place in the semifinals.
Pasuwa reportedly had a hard-hitting conversation with his players, telling them to pull up their socks and to stop behaving like sissies.
Zimbabwe Football Association president Phillip Chayangwa will be watching the game like a hawk, as he wants to see how the $5 million (R67,5 million) pumped into the team has been spent.
Mahachi and Mushekwi are already on the score sheet and will be shadowed by the Senegalese for the entire 90 minutes.
Katsande, who plies his trade at Chiefs, said they were fully focused on this game: “The draw against Algeria is history now. Our focus is on Senegal.
“We are very ambitious.
“We have shown everyone what we are capable of doing and now they must start showing confidence in us.”
Opening Group B’s second round tonight at 6pm, Algeria are up against Tunisia in a clash that will see both clubs aim to finish as high as possible.
- Mathews Mpete is in Gabon courtesy of SuperSport.
