Warriors skipper Knowledge Musona says the team is working hard on rectifying the mistakes from the previous Afcon edition.

Zimbabwe were knocked out in the group stage, managing only a point at the 2017 tournament.

The squad was composed of players without the Afcon experience as the country had last made their last appearance over a decade before.

In an interview with Reuters at the Warriors’ training camp in Durban, Musona believes the selection, which has a couple of new faces, is now capable of getting beyond the first round.

“We have a good team with good quality, and we are working hard to correct the mistakes from the last tournament,” said the skipper.

“We have enough experience and our initial target is to pass out from the group stages for the first time.”

Zimbabwe are in Group A, and they start their campaign on the opening Match-day against hosts Egypt on June 21.

They will play Uganda and DRC in the coming days, and Musona, who is contracted to Belgian side Anderlecht but played part of last season on loan at Lokeren, says the team is targeting to pull an upset on the group favourites.

“We have the hosts and they are always going to be favourites. DR Congo have a strong team and they will know what to expect from us. Uganda are a very good team also.

“Zimbabwe are the only underdog in the group, but that in itself should give is motivation to say we are the Ajax Amsterdam of the Nations Cup.

“We are going there to fight and give disappointment to other teams,” he said, alluding to the Dutch club’s surprise run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals this season.