The Zimbabwe national football team has arrived in Birmingham, England, ahead of the inaugural Unity Cup invitational tournament scheduled to run from May 26 t...
The Zimbabwe national football team has arrived in Birmingham, England, ahead of the inaugural Unity Cup invitational tournament scheduled to run from May 26 to 30.
The tournament will feature four nations — Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Jamaica and India — and marks the first time the Warriors will play an international fixture on English soil.
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The Warriors are expected to camp in Birmingham during the early stages of their preparations before travelling to London on May 24 ahead of the competition. All matches in the tournament will be played at The Valley Stadium.
The Unity Cup also marks the beginning of a new chapter for Zimbabwe following the resignation of Romanian coach Marian Marinica under unclear circumstances. Former Warriors midfielder Kaitano Tembo has been appointed caretaker coach for the tournament and will work alongside Caps United coach Takesure Chiragwi.
The locally-based players and members of the technical team departed Harare on Wednesday evening after attending an official send-off dinner hosted on Tuesday night. During the event, Sports minister Anselem Sanyatwe encouraged the team to represent Zimbabwe positively during the tournament.
“This is a historic moment for our nation. Go out there, maintain discipline and show the world the resilient spirit of the Warriors,” Sanyatwe said during the send-off ceremony.
The Zimbabwe Football Association confirmed that several players based in Europe and South Africa had already joined the squad in Birmingham ahead of the tournament.
Among the senior players already in camp are captain Marvelous Nakamba, Marshall Munetsi, Tawanda Chirewa and Munashe Garananga.
However, the Warriors have also suffered several late withdrawals ahead of the competition. Striker Tinotenda Kadewere has been ruled out because of injury, while winger Bill Antonio was excused from the squad due to personal commitments.
Defender Divine Lunga also withdrew from the squad because of club commitments with Mamelodi Sundowns, who are preparing for the CAF Champions League final against AS FAR in Rabat on May 24.
With defender Aubrey Modiba currently injured, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso reportedly decided against releasing Lunga before the continental final.
In response to the withdrawals, Tembo added reigning Zimbabwe Player of the Year Washington Navaya to the squad together with Prosper Padera and Isheanesu Mauchi.
Zimbabwe will begin their Unity Cup campaign with a match against the Nigeria national football team on Tuesday, May 26.
Nigeria have named a developmental squad for the tournament, although midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has been included to provide leadership and experience within the squad.
Beyond the Unity Cup, the Warriors technical team is also using the tournament as part of preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers scheduled to begin in September.
Zimbabwe has been drawn in Group E alongside Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo in what is expected to be a competitive qualifying campaign.
The Unity Cup is expected to provide Zimbabwe’s technical team with an opportunity to assess combinations, build squad chemistry and prepare for future international assignments ahead of the AFCON qualifiers.
