Zimbabwe Warriors Coach Callisto Pasuwa has named a 31-member provisional squad to begin preparations for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations to be played in Gabon from 14 January to 5 February 2017.

Pasuwa did not effect major changes in his selection preferring to name the tried and tested maintaining the core members of the squad.

Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona, Tatenda Mkuruva, Willard Katsande and Costa Nhamoinesu are among the Warriors who starred in the qualifiers and are going to compete for a place in the final 23 to make it to Gabon.

Among the fairly new faces in the Zimbabwe Warriors squad named by Pasuwa are Tinotenda Kadewere who has been a great sensation at Swedish side Djurgården , Oscar Machapa and Bruce Kangwa.

Nyasha Mushekwi and Mathew Rusike are part of a strikers list which also has the ABSA Premiership’s current leading scorer, Tendai Ndoro and Evans Rusike.

Warriors’ camp begins on the 22nd of December and the team is scheduled to fly out for a preparatory match against African defending champions Cote d’ Ivoire on Boxing Day.

Pasuwa’s men are set to play another friendly match against Cameroon on the 10th of January.

Zimbabwe’s previous two attempts at the continental finals both ended at the group stage; and the current group has the onus to try and surpass their predecessors’ exploits.

Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers

Donovan Bernard (How Mine)

Tatenda Mkuruva (Dynamos)

Nelson Chadya (Ngezi platinum)

Takabva Mawaya (Hwange)

Defenders

Costa Nhamoinesu (AC Sparta Praha)

Blessing Moyo (Maritzburg United)

Bruce Kangwa (Azam FC)

Elisha Muroiwa (Dynamos)

Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps United)

Oscar Machapa (AS Vita Club)

Liberty Chakoroma (Ngezi Platinum)

Onismor Bhasera (Supersport United)

Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn)

Teenage Hadebe (Chicken Inn)

Tendai Ndlovu (Highlanders)

Midfielders

Danny Phiri (Golden Arrows)

Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs)

Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Raphael Kutinyu (Chicken Inn)

Kudakwashe Mahachi (Golden Arrows)

Marshall Mudehwe (FC Platinum)

Talent Chawapiwa (ZPC Kariba)

Marvelous Nakamba (Vitesse Arnhem)

Ronald Chitiyo (Harare City)

Strikers

Cuthbert Malajila (Bidvest Wits)

Evans Rusike (Maritzburg United)

Knowledge Musona (KV Oostende)

Nyasha Mushekwi (Dalian Yifang)

Mathew Rusike (Helsingborgs IF)

Tendai Ndoro (Orlando Pirates)

Tinotenda Kadewere (Djurgardens IF