• Desperate Dynamos cling to slim hope • Last gasp goal denies Dynamos point in Cairo • Dynamos fall to Zamalek, stay second • Giant-killing Dynamos claim Asec scalp • Dynamos beat African champions • Dynamos survive Mozambique scare • Dynamos take commanding lead over Sol

By Nkanyiso Moyo

DYNAMOS have their work cut out as they bid to stay in contention for a semi-final berth in the African Champions League with key players doubtful for the penultimate group stage visit to Asec Mimosas of the Ivory Coast on Saturday.

Midfielder Justice Majabvi is ruled out through suspension. Desmond Maringwa, scorer of the only goal in Dynamos’ 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture, misses the game through injury and striker Murape Murape is rated 50:50.

The Zimbabwe champions flew out on Wednesday for their make-or-break match at the Robert Champroux Stadium in Abidjan.

After back to back losses against Al Ahly and Asec’s 3-0 thumping of Zamalek a fortnight ago, Dynamos must now win in West Africa to keep the dream alive.

Asec, the 1998 champions, have five points in Group A and occupy second place in Group A, one point ahead of Zamalek and two in front of Dynamos.

If Asec use home advantage to overcome Dynamos and Zamalek fail to defeat bitter Cairo rivals Ahly on Sunday, the Ivorians will be through to the semi-finals.

David Mandigora has key decisions to make in midfield. He is likely to draft Danisa Phiri to play just in front of the back four, and deploy Murape, if he recovers on time, to operate from deep in the midfield.

Phiri will be partnered with new signing Carrington Gomba, who will be making his second appearance in the blue and white colours of the champions.

Despite the odds being stacked heavily against them, Mandigora was still confident they can steal through to the last four.

“We have not had Maringwa for the last two matches and we have managed, but with Justice also out it means some changes in midfield,” he said.

“I think our major problem has been converting chances and lack of concentration towards the end of the game. If we find a way to solve that, we have a chance.”

In his travelling squad, he also named Lazarus Muhoni, who is sure to get a place in the starting line up ahead of the pair of Benjamin Marere and Admire Dzukamanja, who have both hit poor form.

Phillip Marufu and Edward Sadomba, who was part of the Warriors team that drew 0-0 with Guinea in a World Cup qualifier last Sunday, will spearhead the search for goals.

Dynamos just had two days to acclimatise to the West African hot conditions, but it’s summer in Zimbabwe, and they should cope.

The Zimbabweans arrived in the Ivory Coast on Thursday to a hostile reception. They were booked into a two star hotel in contravention of CAF rules. They were set to lodge a protest.

GROUP A

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS
Al Ahly	4	3	1	0	5	2	10
Asec Mimosas	4	1	2	1	4	2	5
Zamalek	4	1	1	2	2	5	4
Dynamos	4	1	0	3	3	5	3

GROUP B

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS
Coton Sport	4	2	1	1	3	3	7
Enyimba	4	2	0	2	6	6	6
Al Hilal	4	1	2	1	4	4	5
TP Mazembe	4	1	1	2	3	0	4

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