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CAUSE FOR CONCERN . . . Warriors team doctor Nicholas Munyonga (right) explains the nature of Kuda Mahachi’s injury to ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa while the player (left) and his teammates listen at the start of yesterday’s afternoon training session at the National Sports Stadium. — (Picture by Kudakwashe Hunda)

Petros Kausiyo and Grace Chingoma

ZIMBABWE’S Warriors suffered yet another blow to their preparations for the final African Cup of Nations Group L qualifier against Guinea with star winger Kuda Mahachi being ruled out of the trip to Conakry yesterday after suffering a fractured wrist during their morning training. Mahachi has been one of the star performers as Callisto Pasuwa’s men marched into the 2017 Nations Cup finals with a game to spare.The 22-year-old Golden Arrows man came worse off in an aerial tussle with Maritzburg United defender Blessing Moyo, with the former Chicken Inn ace landing awkwardly on his wrist during the senior team’s workout at Gateway High School.

Pasuwa had initially named a 21-man squad that included three goalkeepers Tatenda Mukuruva, Donavan Bernard and Nelson Chadya, but injuries and withdrawals have left the Warriors further depleted on the eve of their departure for the West African country.

The Warriors have already had to make do without Mahachi’s Golden Arrows new teammate Danny Phiri, who was reportedly injured during an ABSA Premiership debut game against Orlando Pirates.

Bustling striker Nyasha Mushekwi is also out as he could not be released by his Chinese club.

On Monday Pasuwa had to recall Ronald Chitiyo following injuries to FC Platinum speedy winger Marshal Mudehwe in a road accident on Sunday night.

Warriors’ team manager Shariff Mussa, flanked by the team doctor Nicholas Munyonga, explained the nature of Mahachi’s injury.

ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa also visited the Warriors shortly before their afternoon session at the National Sports Stadium.

“As you are aware, Kuda had a fall during the morning training session, it appeared nothing serious, but upon impact when he fell we thought it was better to check up on him because it looked like he had sustained a little bit of a fracture.

“It was proven he had fractured the bones on his arm of which he is now in plaster and we can do further checks with an orthopedic surgeon here, but he prefers that he would like to go back to his club and continue with getting an orthopedic opinion and if need be the treatment plan going forward.

“So he will not be part of our team traveling and we will remain with 17 players and we are not going to have any replacement for him at the moment,” said Mussa.

Munyonga added that early indications are that the winger might be ruled out for at least five weeks.

“The injury that he sustained obviously is a serious injury because he had a fracture of the radius and the anular bones on the right hand and it is an injury that needs to be operated on for him to recover early and fast.

“We expect him to be out a minimum of five weeks from the time when the operation has been done. So we have made a number of arrangements to allow him to be operated with two options either one he can be operated here or he can be operated in South Africa because we have also been in touch with his club officials there and there are arrangements that probably the rehabilitation will be better if he is at his base in South Africa.

“So it is not a train smash, it is only that he will miss a couple of weeks of playing football otherwise he will be back,” said Munyonga.

Coach Pasuwa said Mahachi’s absence would be a big blow to the team as he wants to maintain continuity.

“Remember he has been a regular in all the matches that we have been playing and is a player who has the energy of going up and down and an outside midfielder who has been covering up at the rearguard and now that he is out, we will miss him.

“Maybe it is a chance for us to see how other players fare,” said Pasuwa.

“As a coach I have been talking of continuity and it is a big blow for us in this game against Guinea.

“I think of the other players who are missing, we have been rotating them and of the four guys, one player whom I can say played two games is Hardlife Zvirekwi, again it is a blow also, but again we should have options and say if they are not there we should have some other options,” said Pasuwa.

Despite the gloomy news of Mahachi’s injury, there was a silver lining for the team following an injection of an undisclosed amount of funds by mobile network provider NetOne, who secured the air tickets for the Warriors to travel to Conakry.

Chiyangwa, who visited the team in the company of NetOne marketing executives revealed that the mobile company had bailed the association.

“Although it is a last minute intervention, you can see behind me is NetOne, and they have an interest in what is happening and at the moment, all the things that are being planned are between Government and the NetOne management.

“NetOne has a role in this trip and we have brought in the best players for the game and we have done enough preparations.

“This is the first outing we are having with NetOne involved. We did sign a Memorandum of Understanding as you are aware and that is what is operative right now,” said Chiyangwa.

The ZIFA boss said good times will roll for the national team as they expect more funds to be injected into football.

Chiyangwa said the players’ accommodation had already been upgraded and the Warriors have been staying at a local five star hotel this time around.

Despite the Warriors having already secured qualification, Pasuwa has maintained that he wants his charges to end their campaign on a high note.

Their opponents, Guinea, are also looking to finish what has been a disastrous campaign on a winning note.

Guinea, who are already out of the reckoning for a place at the Nations Cup finals in Gabon, featured a in an international friendly against Egypt which ended 1-1 in Cairo.

Unlike on previous occasions, the Warriors will arrive in Conakry without the pressure of having to either rely on the outcome of the other teams’ results or needing to win by a certain margin in order to qualify as their unbeaten run meant they booked their place with a game to spare.

In fact, the majority of the places at the Gabon tournament have since been secured with traditional giants like Cameroon, Egypt and Ghana booking their tickets to the continental showpiece.

Six places are up for grabs in this weekend’s final day matches.

The six places will consist of winners of Groups A, B, C, D and I which are undecided and the two best runners-up from all the groups except Groups G and I.

Gabon, who have already qualified by virtue of being hosts will be joined by Guinea Bissau, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Algeria, Senegal, and Cameroon.

The Confederation of African Football have also explained the criteria that will be used to determine the best runners-up, a format which the Warriors benefited from when qualifying for their maiden Nations Cup in Tunisia in 2004.

CAF indicated that Article 14 of the tournament’s regulations would be used in determining the best runners-up.

Article 14 states that:

14.1. In case of equality between two teams at the end of the group matches, the teams will be ranked according to the following criteria in the order listed below:

14.1.4 The goal difference in all group matches;

14.1.5 The greatest number of goals scored in all group matches

14.1.6 A drawing of lots conducted by the Organising Committee

In the case of more than two teams tied, Article 14.2 (explained below) will be the determining factor.

14.2. In case of equality between more than two teams at the end of the group matches, the teams will be ranked according to the following criteria in the order listed below:

14.2.6 the goal difference in all group matches;

14.2.7 the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches;

14.2.8 the greatest number of away goals scored in all group matches;

14.2.9 a drawing of lots conducted by the Organising Committee”