Tadious Manyepo in ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia
The local band of Warriors including Spain-based goalkeeper Martin Mapisa are expected back home Tuesday afternoon.
They were part of the national squad that played in back-to-back 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Nigeria at Huye Stadium in Rwanda last week.
Both games ended in draws with Baltemar Brito’s side playing out a goalless draw against Rwanda last Wednesday before posting a 1-1 draw against Nigeria on Sunday.
The foreign-based players started leaving for their bases as soon as the Nigeria game was completed.
The local-based players including Obriel Chiringa, Peter Muduhwa, Walter Musona, Brian Banda, Donovan Bernard, Frank Makarati, Tanaka Shandirwa and Spain-based ‘keeper Mapisa left Kigali yesterday and had a sleep-over in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
They will touch down at around 2:45pm at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
Coach Baltemar Brito and his technical team remained in Rwanda as they want to watch Rwanda and South Africa in action at Huye Stadium Tuesday afternoon.
Head of delegation Lovemore Matikinyidze as well as the ZIFA Normalisation Committee chairman Lincoln Mutasa and his wife are part of the delegation expected back home Tuesday afternoon. – The Herald
