Undertaker reports for duty down South

Undertaker reports for duty down South

• Nyandoro injury blow for Warriors

• Mhlauri drops Dinha from Warriors squad

• Mwaruwari to finance Warriors camp in France

• Mhlauri set for shock Caps exit

• Warriors pick up $50m bonuses each

• Peter Ndlovu: the betrayal of a hero

• Warriors through to Africa Nations Cup

• Mhlauri relishes 'game of my life'

• Murambadoro settles for Palace

• Arubi gets surprise call-up to Warriors squad

• Cosafa Cup heroes to get land

• Zimbabwe lift Cosafa Cup

By Ike Tinotenda

ZIMBABWE’S trump card in the decisive World Cup/African Cup of Nations qualifier match against Nigeria, Benjani Mwaruwari was on Wednesday expected to join his team-mates in South Africa on their way to Abuja, Nigeria.

The two teams clash on Saturday.
Mwaruwari was expected to feature in a friendly match between Zimbabwe and Peter Ndlovu’s Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa on Wednesday.

The Zimbabwean camp also received a major boost ahead of the tie after hot shot Shingi Kawondera finally secured a passport to travel to the West African country and was expected to be named in the final 18 squad last night.

Kawondera had been doubtful for the match after revelations that his passport had a wrong gender on it. But Home Office officials here this week worked round the clock to ensure the Israel-bound striker gets a corrected passport.

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Esrom Nyandoro has already been ruled out due to an ankle injury sustained while playing for his South African side last weekend. But it is the availability of Mwaruwari which will certainly boost Zimbabwe’s chances of revenging against the Nigerians.

The Super Eagles beat Zimbabwe 3-0 in the reverse fixture at the National Sports Stadium last September.

Meanwhile reports from Lagos said Jay Jay Okocha is in Nigeria despite his injury suffered during Bolton Wanderers English Premiership game against Wigan last Saturday. The Nigerian skipper told BBC Sport that as captain of the national team, he had to provide "moral support" to his team mates.

They must defeat Zimbabwe on Saturday to have any chance of qualifying for Germany 2006.

"It is unfortunate that I cannot feature in the game but I am in Nigeria to play my role in what is a key qualifier for us," Okocha told BBC Sport from Lagos on Tuesday.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce had told the Press Association that Okocha had been compelled by the Nigeria FA - using their rights under Fifa rules - to travel home.

"We tried to persuade the Nigerian authorities that it would be better for Jay-Jay to stay here, but they said no," Allardyce was quoted as saying. "It is frustrating but we have to respect their wishes."

But Okocha said he was in Nigeria of his free will.

"I was not forced to travel. It was my wish to come to Nigeria at this time and provide moral support at a crucial moment."

Okocha, who made his debut for Nigeria 12 years ago, is the only active international from the squad that won the 1994 African Cup of Nations and made their debut at the World Cup finals in the same year. Should Nigeria qualify for Germany, Okocha will become the only African player to feature in four successive World Cup finals.
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