Sibanda boost for Warriors

Sport
From Wellington Toni in Khartoum, Sudan Warriors striker Clive Kawinga and midfielder Charles Sibanda are available for selection for today’s decisive African Nations Championships (Chan) against South Africa at the Hilal Stadium after missing the last match against Ghana.  

Kawinga picked an injury in the opening match against Niger.

 

Nicholas Munyonga, the Warriors team doctor said Kawinga and Sibanda had recovered.

Yesterday morning Kawinga trained with the rest of the team with a slight limp while Sibanda finished the session with Munyonga to give the final assessment late last night.

Darlington Dodo, the Warriors assistant coach said they were not underestimating South Africa.

“All we need to do is gear up like we did against Ghana and convert the chances that come our way,” Dodo said.

The South Africans have been the better of the three southern African nations, the other being Angola, winning two games against Niger and Ghana to top the group with six points. Zimbabwe are tied on three points with Niger as the fight for the second qualifying spot intensifies.

Zimbabwe have to beat South Africa today, while Niger can only go through if they thump the Black Stars with a wide margin and the Warriors draw, lose or win by a narrow margin.

If the Warriors top the group, they will return to dusty Mehdani and will play Group A winners Sudan or Algeria but if they are second they stay in the capital to face either of the two teams.

Defender Nyasha Mukumbi said their mission was to make history by becoming the first group of players to reach the quarterfinals of Chan.

“We will play to win the match and not worry much about the Ghana-Niger game. We are motivated because we want to be the first group of players to reach the quarterfinals after failing in Ivory Coast (in 2009).

“We just need to win and move to six points because we have already made history by winning the first match at Chan. It’s all about making history,” Mukumbi said.