Reviewed by Praise Dumi DhlakamaZimbabwe sports betting writer
Published 7 September 2026
Ramon Catala has named his first Zimbabwe squad, for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Sierra Leone on 24 September and at home to DR Congo on 28 September. Three of the players he named were later ruled out through injury.
It was the new coach’s first selection since taking the Warriors job, and it reached beyond the settled group. Isaac Mabaya of Liverpool was called up, Marshall Munetsi of Wolves was retained, and Marley Tavaziva was included as a goalkeeper without a club. Tavaziva was left out when Catala named his final squad on 14 September.
Two matches inside five days
Zimbabwe play Sierra Leone on Thursday 24 September and DR Congo on Monday 28 September, the opening two matchdays of the qualifying group. CAF has confirmed both dates. Sierra Leone are staging their home fixture at the Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi in El Jadida, Morocco.
The shape of the selection was a core of Europe based professionals, a heavy draw on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, and room for players who were not in the last squad.
ZIFA said on 22 September that Mabaya, Prince Dube and Tino Kadewere had all been ruled out through injury, and that Washington Navaya and Leeroy Mavunga had joined the squad. There is more in Kadewere and Dube Withdraw Injured From the Warriors Squad.
Why the home match matters more than usual
CAF cleared the National Sports Stadium at the start of this month after a technical inspection, ending a spell in which Zimbabwe played its home qualifiers on neutral ground in other countries. The last senior international there was a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia on 14 November 2021. The DR Congo match is the first home qualifier the Warriors have had since that clearance, and it arrives four days after a long trip.
AFCON 2027 is hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and the hosts take their places without qualifying. That leaves the rest of the continent competing for the remaining slots, and Zimbabwe open with an away match and a home match in the same window.
Where to bet: AFCON qualifiers are priced by Premier Bet and Betway, both operating under the Lotteries and Gaming Board, with match result, both teams to score and correct score, and outrights on the qualifying group. Stakes are taken in United States dollars, with deposits through EcoCash and OneMoney. A side that has not played a competitive home match in Harare since November 2021 has been priced without a home advantage, so watch how the two books handle the DR Congo match rather than assuming the old numbers hold. Our guide to the best betting sites in Zimbabwe covers licensing and payout times, and there is more in Zimbabwe soccer news from AXN Sports. 18+. Gamble responsibly.
