2022 World Cup qualifiers: Zimbabwe players to fly directly into Ghana from Europe

Key Zimbabwe players who ply their trade in Europe will fly directly to Ghana for their 2022 World Cup doubleheader qualifiers against the Black Stars, Footballghana.com can report.

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.

Ahead of the games, the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) are hoping players plying their trade in the United Kingdom be available for Ghana clash next month.

The Warriors of Zimbabwe did not start their qualifying campaign on a good note losing one and drawing one in the process.

They shared the spoils on home turf against South Africa before their 1-0 defeat at Ethiopia which led to the sacking of their trainer Zdravko Logarusic.

Zimbabwe missed top stars who ply their trade in the UK for South Africa and Ethiopia games as their clubs prevented them from traveling to the said countries as they would be quarantined for 10 days upon return and subsequently miss two matches.

The likes of 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 were not allowed to join the national team earlier this month.

However, 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.

The UK government wants the players to be housed in strict bio-bubble conditions for them to be exempt from the quarantine requirements.

Spokesperson of the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) Xolisani Gwesela has disclosed they have 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”

He revealed players plying their trade in Europe will fly directly to Ghana for the much-anticipated game.

“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” he said.