Kudakwashe Chikwenje, Sports Reporter
WARRIORS and Triangle goalkeeper Talbert Shumba says Zimbabwe are in fair group after being drawn with hosts Cameroon, Mali and Burkina Faso in Group A of African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament this April.
“I think it’s a fair group because Zimbabwe is one of the experienced teams in this CHAN tournament.
“We might face a challenge since the tournament starts while we are not active in our local league.
“It looks like a tough group considering the quality of the teams and the history of the teams in the tournament,” Shumba said.
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Hosts Cameroon and Zimbabwe play in the opening match.
The Warriors’ best run came in 2014 when they reached the semi- finals which they crashed out to 4-5 on penalty shoot-out against Libya.
Shumba is optimistic that Zimbabwe has a better chance of succeeding in the tournament.
“I hope the preparations will allow the team to be formidable force at the tournament and go as far in the tournament.
“I’m confident the team will succeed in the tournament,” added Shumba.
Meanwhile, Cameroon’s performance in the tournament has been impressive in previous campaigns.
They have reached the tournament’s quarter-finals twice.
In the last two campaigns Burkina Faso have failed to go beyond group stage while Mali were runners-up in 2016.
FC Platinum midfielder Ralph Kawondera also said the group is not tough.
“The group is not hard and I’m sure we will be successful in the tournament,” Kawondera said.
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– HMETRO
