France-based striker Tino Kadewere has been ruled out of the Zimbabwe Warriors’ 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup qualifiers against Ghana early next month due to injury.
Kadewere has been sidelined with a thigh injury that has seen him miss the last four matches for his French Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyon.
The 25-year-old forward suffered the muscle injury on September 3 when the Warriors were held to a goalless draw by South Africa in a Group G World Cup qualifier at the National Sports Stadium.
And the former Harare City player was the major omission in interim Warriors coach Norman Mapeza’s squad for the back-to-back Group G encounters against Ghana.
Zimbabwe take on the Black Stars away in Ghana on the 9th of October before hosting them at the National Sports Stadium three days later.
In Kadewere’s absence, Mapeza has called up South Africa-based forward Knox Mutizwa, who has been in good form for his club Golden Arrows.
Mutizwa, who missed the matches against South Africa and Ethiopia after testing positive for Covid-19 is one of the three strikers named in the 24-man squad together with Warriors captain Knowledge Musona and Terrence Dzvukamanja of Orlando Pirates.
Also, Zimbabwe will be without its poster boy Khama Billiat for the game on October 9, 2021.
Billiat will miss the clash due to suspension. He accrued 2 yellow cards in the matches against South Africa and Ethiopia earlier this month.
Zimbabwe has also named the England-based quartet of Marvelous Nakamba, Brendan Galloway and Jordan Zemura despite the uncertainty surrounding their availability for both matches.
Zimbabwe will be looking to revive their World Cup campaign which was left struggling for air after they picked up a single point from two matches.
They sit at the bottom of their pool, three points behind leaders South Africa.
Zimbabwe failed to score in both matches and the arrival of Bonnie could help give them bite up front.
Newly appointed Warriors coach Norman Mapeza has named a 24-man squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ghana early next month.
Below is the squad;
Goalkeepers: Martin Mapisa (Zamora CF) Talbert Shumba (Free State Stars) Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants)
Defenders: Alec Mudimu (Torpedo Kutaisi), Brendan Galloway (Plymouth Argyle) Bruce Kangwa (Azam FC), Jordan Zemura (AFC Bournemouth), Onismor Bhasera (SuperSport United), Rahman Kutsanzira (FC Platinum), Teenage Hadebe (Houston Dynamo) Tendayi Darikwa (Wigan)
Midfielders: Blessing Sarupinda (Sekhukhune), Farai Madhanaga (Marumo Gallants), Kelvin Madzongwe (FC Platinum), Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs), Kuda Mahachi (SuperSport), Marshall Munetsi (Stade de Reims) Never Tigere (Azam) Marvellous Nakamba, (Aston Villa), Perfect Chikwende (Simba FC) Thabani Kamusoko (Zesco).
Strikers: Knowledge Musona (Al Tai), Knox Mutizwa (Golden Arrows), Terrence Dzvukamanja (Orlando Pirates)
