ZIFA is close to finalising negotiations that will see the Warriors playing some high profile friendlies, including one against former African champions Egypt, ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. The soccer governing body’s president Phillip Chiyangwa will this week meet with national team coach Kallisto Pasuwa to get his input on the proposed friendlies. “There are top, top teams that are calling me everyday requesting to play against our team and I am just saying “wait I will get back to you”. “However, time has now come to confirm those games. I will meet Pasuwa and once he has given me his input we will announce the fixture programme,” he said.
Chiyangwa said the success enjoyed by both the Mighty Warriors and the Warriors has given him legs to stand on when negotiating friendly matches.
“As Zifa president I find myself in a position that very few of my predecessors have been in. I am able to negotiate with some of these so called big boys at my own terms because I have something that they want.
“The Zambians were here to play the Warriors, South Africa also came to play the Mighty Warriors and this weekend the boys are playing Tanzania.
“I stand to be corrected but we have never played a powerhouse such as Ivory Coast in a friendly before but we will be doing that in December and it’s all down to the success that our team has enjoyed,” he said.
The Warriors are scheduled to play reigning Africa champions Ivory Coast in Abidjan on Boxing Day as part of their preparations for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.-zp
