Captain Marvelous Nakamba of Zimbabwe has been ruled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers due to injury. Richard Hachiro will replace him as the team prepares for matches against Nigeria and Benin Republic. Nigeria seeks to take advantage of this setback as both teams vie for better positioning in Group C.
Zimbabwe’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers have been significantly impacted by the injury of their captain, Marvelous Nakamba. According to reports from The Herald, head coach Michael Nees has opted to replace Nakamba with Richard Hachiro, who was initially listed as a standby player. Nakamba’s leadership and experience will be sorely missed as the Warriors adjust to his absence.
Hachiro previously participated in the national team during the successful AFCON 2025 qualification campaign led by Nees. He joined several home-based players, including goalkeeper Martin Mapisa and midfielders Emmanuel Jalai and Isheanesu Mauchi, who departed for South Africa on Sunday. They were joined by six players based in Scotland, including former Kaizer Chiefs star Khama Billiat.
The first group of ten home-based players has already arrived in Durban, where Nees plans to conduct a three-day training camp in preparation for their match against Benin at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Thursday. Following this match, the Warriors will head to Uyo for a crucial encounter against Nigeria on March 25. Currently, Zimbabwe sits at the bottom of Group C with only two points, while Nigeria occupies the fifth position with three points.
Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle, who was appointed earlier this year, will aim to capitalize on Zimbabwe’s challenges, seeking his team’s first victory in the qualifiers against the wounded Warriors.
In conclusion, the Zimbabwe national football team faces significant challenges ahead of their World Cup qualifiers due to the injury of captain Marvelous Nakamba. His replacement, Richard Hachiro, will need to step up as the team prepares for critical matches against Benin and Nigeria. With the team’s current position in the group, the upcoming fixtures hold immense importance for their qualification hopes.
Original Source: www.brila.net
