2022 World Cup qualifiers: Zimbabwe hopes UK based players will be release for Ghana clash

The Warriors of Zimbabwe are hoping players plying their trade in the United Kingdom be available for Ghana clash next month.

The Black Stars and Zimbabwe will face home and away in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in October.

Ghana will play host to Zimbabwe on October 9 before traveling to Harare for the return fixture on October 12.

Talks between FIFA and the UK government over the release of players are far advanced while changes to the UK law regarding people coming from red-listed Covid-19 countries are being revised.

This come as a boost for Zimbabwe who are bottom on the table in Group G and are seeking to turn things around in their encounter with the four-time African champions.

Players likely to be called up for the Warriors doubleheader with Ghana include Marvelous Nakamba (Aston Villa), Tendayi Darikwa (Wigan Athletic), Jordan Zemura (Bournemouth), Brendan Galloway (Portsmouth), Macauley Bonne (Ipswich Town), Admiral Muskwe (Luton) and David Moyo who plays for Scottish side Hamilton Academical.

Zimbabwe were affected as the aforementioned players were not allowed to travel to South Africa and Ethiopia respectively due to Covid-19 restrictions by their clubs.

Spokesperson of the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) Xolisani Gwesela on Friday disclosed they had sent correspondence to the respective clubs in England to release players and they were awaiting responses.

“That is the procedure; we request the player and they respond and if they cite any reason like COVID-19 for non-release of a player, then we engage. We also hope that Fifa is seized with the matter. The Fifa regulations on the release of players are clear, players have to be released.

“United States-based Teenage Hadebe was also blocked from travelling by his club Houston Dynamo last month, but some players based in Europe that made it include France-based Tino Kadewere and Marshal Munetsi, among others”

“ZIFA indicated that foreign-based players will fly direct to Ghana, which is not in the red zone, and will only play the away match if the UK clubs insist on blocking players from travelling to Zimbabwe”