The Warriors could be without several key players when Zimbabwe begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign this month.
Zimbabwe are set to embark on their qualification campaign with a number of players facing fitness concerns, while others could miss out due to a lack of match fitness.
The Warriors’ campaign begins with an away trip to Sierra Leone, before they return home to face DR Congo between 21 September and 6 October.
Here is a look at some of the players who could miss the upcoming AFCON qualifiers:
Brendan Galloway
Galloway remains without a club and has also missed the pre-season period, leaving his fitness levels a concern.
The defender could therefore be overlooked by the Warriors technical team, with a lack of competitive football potentially putting him at increased risk of injury during international duty.
His current situation could also make it difficult for him to secure a new club if he suffers an injury while with the national team.
Bill Antonio
Antonio is another major doubt after suffering an ankle injury three weeks ago.
The 23-year-old winger picked up the injury during KV Mechelen’s pre-season friendly against Willem II and is expected to remain sidelined until the end of September.
His recovery timeline means he is unlikely to be available for the Warriors’ AFCON qualifiers this month.
Washington Arubi
Warriors goalkeeper Washington Arubi is also facing a spell on the sidelines after suffering an injury last week.
The CAPS United shot-stopper has been ruled out of action for a few weeks, putting his availability for the upcoming qualifiers in serious doubt.
His absence would leave the Warriors technical team with another goalkeeping decision to make ahead of the qualifiers.
Jonah Fabisch
Fabisch’s start to life at Golden Arrows has been disrupted by an injury sustained in training.
The midfielder joined the South African Betway Premiership side last month but has yet to feature in a competitive match for the club.
The expected recovery period from his injury has not been disclosed, making his availability for the Warriors’ upcoming qualifiers uncertain.
Sean Fusire
Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Sean Fusire is also battling fitness issues.
The Zimbabwe international has missed games this season, with his club coach Henrik Pedersen recently providing an update on his situation.
However, the coach did not give a specific timeframe for the 21-year-old’s return, leaving his availability for the Warriors’ AFCON qualifiers uncertain.
