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2019 Africa Cup of Nations: Group A preview

By Liam Bekker

An Egyptian walks along a pedestrian crossing beneath a bridge in the Nile of island of Zamalek in the heart of the capital Cairo on September 5, 2018, towards a graffiti mural depicting players of the national football team and its star and Liverpool FC striker Mohamed Salah (C). - Mohamed Salah, back in Egypt for African Cup of Nations qualifiers, has already scored a victory, forcing his national football federation to back down after a war of nerves. (Photo by Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP) (Photo credit should read MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP/Getty Images)
An Egyptian walks along a pedestrian crossing beneath a bridge in the Nile of island of Zamalek in the heart of the capital Cairo on September 5, 2018, towards a graffiti mural depicting players of the national football team and its star and Liverpool FC striker Mohamed Salah (C). - Mohamed Salah, back in Egypt for African Cup of Nations qualifiers, has already scored a victory, forcing his national football federation to back down after a war of nerves. (Photo by Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP) (Photo credit should read MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Zimbabwe’s Khama Billiat (C) celebrates Zimbabwe’s Knowledge Musona (L) after scoring a goal during the AFCON Group L qualifier football match between Malawi and Zimbabwe on June 5, 2016 at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. / AFP / JEKESAI NJIKIZANA (Photo credit should read JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP/Getty Images)
Zimbabwe’s Khama Billiat (C) celebrates Zimbabwe’s Knowledge Musona (L) after scoring a goal during the AFCON Group L qualifier football match between Malawi and Zimbabwe on June 5, 2016 at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. / AFP / JEKESAI NJIKIZANA (Photo credit should read JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP/Getty Images) /

ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe are taking part in only their fourth Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The Southern African nation have never progressed beyond the group stages of the competition and, given the quality of their Group A opponents, are unlikely to buck that trend this time around.

Qualification

Despite their relative minnow status, Zimbabwe qualified top of a group that included Liberia, Congo and fellow Group A opponents, DR Congo. Inspired by a Knowledge Musona hat-trick, Sunday Chidzambwa’s side got their campaign underway with a 3-0 win over Liberia and recorded further wins over DR Congo and Congo.

Captain Musona ultimately score five goals with Khama Billiat adding a further three as Zimbabwe recorded 11 points out of a possible 18. Together, the pair were responsible for eight of Zimbabwe’s nine goals in qualifying, with Ronald Pfumbidzai the only other player to record a goal for the nation.

The squad

Zimbabwe arrive at AFCON 2019 without a single domestic player in their ranks. Instead, the 23-man squad boasts thirteen players from the South African Premier Division, only four fewer than South Africa have in their own squad, and a handful more predominantly spread across Africa and Europe.

Chidzambwa’s squad offers a lot going forward with the attacking prowess of Musona and Billiat  supported by the likes of Nyasha Mushekwi, Marshall Munetsi and Marvelous Nakamba. Willard Katsande is the most notable absentee with the 33-year old being overlooked after a disappointing campaign with Kaizer Chiefs.

Next. Group B preview. dark

Key player: Knowledge Musona

With 22 goals in 37 international appearances, captain Musona will be Zimbabwe’s key player at the Africa Cup of the Nations. The 28-year old has endured a difficult time in Belgian since joining Anderlecht at the start of the season but remains the national team’s go-to man for goals.

Musona was one of only four players to score five or more goals in qualifying and, with the likes of Billiat & co. providing him with service, should trouble the scorers at the tournament proper. Zimbabwe aren’t expected to progress but they might just be in with a chance if Musona hits top form.

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