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African Cup of Nations finals berth alive by grinding out a result against Mali in Bamako.
The Warriors are still to register a win in their bid for a place among 16 teams that will be at the 2012 Nations Cup to be jointly hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Zimbabwe have managed just two draws so far in the competition.
But their skipper Mwanjali believes the Warriors just need to avoid defeat in their third game against the Eagles in Bamako to stay in contention.
On the same weekend that the Warriors travel to Bamako, Group A leaders Cape Verde – with four points on the board – will be at home to bottom-placed Liberia’s Lone Star in Praia.
Mamelodi Sundowns defender Mwanjali said the Warriors – who currently lie third in Group A – are now faced with a must-win situation as any other result would make their task even tougher in the qualifiers.
“This is a big game which could be more difficult than the first two against Liberia and Cape Verde. We need to win in Mali and we are going to put in everything into this game although it is always difficult playing away from home.
“Sometimes you play in a hostile environment, but we are prepared for everything. Of course, we didn’t win the first two games but that is now behind us. We are looking to the challenges ahead and hopefully we will do well,” said Mwanjali.
The former CAPS United utility man said Zimbabwe would be out to put their qualifying campaign on the right track by avoiding defeat against the Eagles.
Although the Warriors have been hit by injuries, coach Norman Mapeza is still not short of experienced personnel in the side that was scheduled to fly out of Harare via Nairobi, Kenya at dawn today.
Apart from the skipper, Mapeza can also count on the experience of Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha, Justice Majabvi, Thomas Sweswe, Vusa Nyoni, Washington Arubi, Edward Sadomba and Tapuwa Kapini.
It is Nengomasha, the man affectionately known as “The General” by Kaizer Chiefs fans, who is the most experienced player in the current Warriors having been part of Sunday Chidzambwa’s side that fought a brave 0-0 draw against the Eagles in Bamako in 2003.
Nengomasha might not be a captain, but he remains one of the team’s leaders and his years of experience are certain to help make Mwanjali’s job easier in Bamako.
The Kaizer Chiefs midfielder has also been part of the Warriors on the two occasions they have played at the continental football showcase.
Although Mwanjali is optimistic of a result in Bamako, he is also aware of the threat posed by the Eagles especially when they play at home.
Mali might be without key midfielder Seydou Keita of Barcelona and French side AJ Auxerre’s Adama Coulibaly but they are not short of talented players with most of the squad that will face the Warriors plying their trade in France and Belgium.
Eagles coach Alain Giresse announced a squad that has goalkeepers Soumailia Diakite and Alma-my Sogoba as the only players who ply their trade in the domestic league.
Despite making a false start against Cape Verde back in September last year, Mali picked up maximum points in their second outing when they dismissed Liberia 2-1 in Bamako.
Mwanjali is also still confident that the team will stand their ground in the hostile West African conditions. He said Zimbabwe were on course despite the setback caused by injuries that ruled out pla-yers like Onismor Bhasera, Knowledge Musona, Noel Kaseke, Gilbert Mapemba, Musa Mguni and Takesure Chinyama.
The Warriors technical department however, has added more flesh to the side with talented rookies Khama Billiat, Archiford Gutu and Denver Mukamba coming into the side.
“We have been working hard in all areas since we began camp. It was unfortunate that some players were not available due to injuries but we have some youngsters coming into the team and it seems they are fitting well into the system.
“Hopefully they will not be intimidated by the stage, but I believe every player who has been selected into the team has the capacity to do the job,” said Mwanjali.