Zimbabwe coach Sunday Chidzambga has named two Kaizer Chiefs stars in his PSL-focused provisional AFCON 2019 squad.
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With Zimbabwe having qualified for their fourth AFCON in their history they will hope to make it past the group stages for the first time. As many as 17 PSL stars were called up to the 34-man preliminary squad ahead of the tournament in Egypt.
"We are going to play two matches at the Cosafa tournament and then 18 players will leave for Nigeria for the friendly match on 8 June, while the rest remains in South Africa," team manager Wellington Mpandare said at the announcement press conference, as quoted by NewsDay.
"Five players will then be picked to follow the 18 players in Nigeria to make a 23-member squad."
Click through the gallery below to see the top goalscorers of the AFCON 2019 qualification campaign:
The Warriors, who have included Chiefs stars Khama Billiat and Teenage Hadebe in their provisional squad, are still trying to organise another friendly on 25 May to prepare for their AFCON opener against hosts Egypt on 21 June. Uganda and DR Congo are the other two teams in Zimbabwe's group at the tournament.
Here is Zimbabwe's preliminary squad in full, as confirmed by the Zimbabwe FA (ZIFA):
Goalkeepers
George Chigova (Polokwane City), Edmore Sibanda (Witbank Spurs), Elvis Chipezeze (Baroka), Talbert Shumba (Chapungu)
Defenders
Dennis Dauda (Lusaka Dynamos), Lawrence Mhlanga (FC Platinum), Jimmy Dzingai (Power Dynamos), Byron Madzokere (Yadah Stars), Alec Mudimu (CEFN Druids), Teenage Hadebe (Kaizer Chiefs), Divine Lunga (Golden Arrows), Ronald Pfumbidzai (Bloemfontein Celtic), Tendai Darikwa (Nottingham Forest)
Midfielders
Danny Phiri (Golden Arrows), Marshall Munetsi (Orlando Pirates), Marvelous Nakamba (Club Brugge), Butholezwe Ncube (AmaZulu), Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Azam), Ovidy Karuru (AmaZulu), Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs), Kudakwashe Mahachi (Orlando Pirates), Tafadzwa Rusike (Zanaco), Richard Hachiro (Herentals), Talent Chawapihwa (AmaZulu), Leeroy Mavunga (Yadah), Knowledge Musona (Lokeren), Thabani Kamusoko (Young Africans), Rodwell Chinyengetere (Baroka)
Strikers
Nyasha Mushekwi (Dalian Yifang), Evans Rusike (SuperSport United), Walter Musona (Polokwane City), Tinotenda Kadewere (Le Havre), Knox Mutizwa (Golden Arrows), Admiral Muskwe (Leicester City)
How far do you think Zimbabwe can go at AFCON 2019? Have your say in the comments section below.
