WEST AFRICANS are the common enemy for Zimbabwe’s Under-23 men and senior women’s teams this weekend.
The Under-23 side clash with Cameroon in Harare at the ceremonial home of football Rufaro Stadium on Sunday, while the Mighty Warriors are away to Ghana for a date against the women’s side in Accra.
Both teams will be playing in All-Africa Games qualifiers.
The Young Warriors play in a first round first leg qualifier match after proceeding to this stage without kicking a ball.
In the preliminary stage, Zimbabwe were supposed to clash with Swaziland, but Swaziland withdrew from the competitions.
The flagship team under the tutelage of Kalisto Pasuwa went in camp earlier this week preparing for Sunday’s tie.
This will be the first crucial match for the former Dynamos gaffer since taking over the team two years ago.
The team represents the future of Zimbabwean football.
However, some of the foreign-based players called will not feature for Zimbabwe as their clubs refused them leave.
The clubs argued that the matches are not sanctioned by FIFA.
Even some local teams did not release players in time.
The local clubs are preparing for the premiership that starts this weekend.
Some of the players called for duty include Bernard Donovan from How Mine, Blessing Moyo from Dynamos, defender Teenage Hadebe from Highlanders and Nqobizitha Masuku.
Ronald Pfumbidzai is expected to be part of the team while uncertainty surrounded the availability of Mamelodi Sundowns’ Kudakwashe Mahachi.
About 18 players were in camp and Pasuwa will have to do with the available players.
Meanwhile, the Mighty Warriors go into battle tomorrow against Ghana for an All-Africa Games qualifier match.
The winner of the two-legged qualifiers will secure a berth at the All-Africa Games slated for Congo later this year.
The Mighty Warriors left the country on Wednesday for West Africa and the return leg will be played in two weeks time.
Some of the players in the Mighty Warriors camp include Rudo Neshamba, Emmaculate Msipa, Erina Jeke and Marjoury Nyaumwe.