Former Orlando Pirates Star Breaks Silence on AFCON Snub
Former Orlando Pirates player and Wolves midfielder Marshall Munetsi has voiced his frustration after being left out of Zimbabwe’s final AFCON squad, prompting ZIFA to issue a detailed response.
Munetsi was named in the preliminary squad, but doubts grew after he picked up an injury during Wolves’ Premier League match against Nottingham Forest. When new coach Marian Marinică announced his final selection, Munetsi and Khama Billiat were missing.
The Warriors captain then posted online, saying the omission “hurts” and claiming Wolves had told ZIFA he was recovering well and even offered medical support. He added that he received no follow-up, but pledged full support for the team.
ZIFA responded by saying there was miscommunication and missing paperwork. The association insists it maintained formal contact with Wolves and Munetsi, but the club did not provide a required written consent/liability waiver linked to insurance rules under the FIFA Club Protection Programme. Without that documentation by the CAF submission deadline, ZIFA says it could not legally and ethically include him while he was still managing an injury.
AFCON note: Zimbabwe have a Group B showdown with South Africa (Bafana Bafana) at the tournament in Morocco — a SA vs Zim duel that could shape the group.