Peter Ndlovu

Jan 10,06 12:39pm ZIMBABWE’s preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt hit a hitch yesterday when Togo pulled out of a planned international friendly match that could have given the Warriors technical department another opportunity to assess the players. Another friendly match is likely to be confirmed today against the Atlas Lions of Morocco if everything goes according to plan. Togo are said to be battling with a series of injuries sustained in a match against Guinea on Saturday. Ernest Sibanda, the Warriors manager, confirmed the developments yesterday from France where the Warriors are camped for a week.

“Togo say they have injuries and they have pulled out. So we are working on a plan to play Morocco there, but that can only be confirmed tomorrow (today).

“The major problem is on visas. We have single visas and we need new ones to travel to Morocco . . . so that is what we are trying to work out,” Sibanda said.

Togo, coached by former Super Eagles’ Stephen Keshi, lost 10 to Guinea on Saturday in a match in which a number of their players sustained injuries.

The Warriors also have injury worries with vicecaptain Dumisani Mpofu, leftback Cephas Chimedza and striker Shingi Kawondera suffering light knocks in the last couple of days.

“Chimedza twisted his ankle and did not train during yesterday’s afternoon session (Sunday).

“But otherwise the camp is excellent and everybody is raring to go except that they are afraid of injuries because there is a big fight for places even in the teams that we are playing against,” the manager said.

The Warriors have played two matches against Zambia (11) and Egypt (20), which has given the technical department of head coach Charles Mhlauri, his assistants Dick de Boer, David Mandigora and Willard Khumalo a starting point.

They will play AJ Auxerre in their first match in France and then take on Guinea in another friendly on Saturday before leaving for Egypt.

They have been drawn against Senegal, Nigeria and World Cup qualifiers Ghana in Group D.

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