With Bafana Bafana looking for an important win when they face Zimbabwe for a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, Lukhanyo Mtuta looks at four of the Warriors' European-based players who could cause problems for South Africa.
Zimbabwe head into their clash against Bafana on the back of a 2-0 loss to Lesotho last Friday. Ging into the match as underdogs, the Warriors could seemingly take a defensive approach given that South Africa are considered favourites to win the tie.
Read: Zim boss refuses to be 'bullied' by Bafana Bafana
As such, Hugo Broos' team will need to do some serious work trying to break down the Zim defence, which will be dominated by a number of European-based stars.
Marshall Munetsi - Stade Reims
The former Orlando Pirates player had a standout season for his club Stade Reims, registering four goals and four assists in Ligue 1, the most he has ever contributed in a season, as per Transfermarkt. Only five other players at Reims played more minutes than Munetsi in 2023/24, demonstrating the trust his coaches have shown in him. Having captained the Warriors during their recent 2-0 defeat to Lesotho at Orlando Stadium, Munetsi is expected to wear the armband again for his country as one of the more senior players in the team. Some of his stand-out qualities are his solid physicality and industriousness as he has shown a knack for covering a lot of ground and preventing counter-attacks.
Tino Kadewere - Nantes (on loan from Olympique Lyon)
With the days of Nyasha Mushekwi and Knowledge Musona having passed, Kadewere is now Zim's first-choice striker. The 28-year-old has appeared in every game for his country since January 2022, only missing one international match against Botswana last year due to injury. After struggling to displace Alexandre Lacazette as Olympique Lyon's striker, the Zimbabwean joined fellow Ligue 1 side FC Nantes in the January transfer window, where he would go on to register three goals in 16 games for the French team. Kadewere's experience playing in Ligue 1 and LALIGA could prove valuable against a locally-dominated Bafana.
Get the latest soccer news and be ahead of the game. Follow our WhatsApp Channel via this link!
Jordan Zemura - Udinese
Naturally a left-back, Zemura now occupies a more advanced left-midfield role for his country. The 24-year-old was instrumental for his club Udinese last term, registering 29 appearances in all competitions during his debut campaign after he joined the club from Bournemouth in July 2023. Zemura has played nine times for his country, with eight of those outings coming as a starter. The attack-minded defender will be an outlet on the left channel, where he will likely come up against Bafana's Khuliso Mudau.
Andy Rinomhota - Cardiff City
The England-born midfielder is a newcomer to the Zimbabwe national team, having only made his debut in November 2023. Rinomhota struggled to get game time at his club Cardiff City last season, prompting a loan move to Rotherham United in February 2024, where he would instantly become a regular and make 16 appearances from a possible 17 matches. With the absence of Marvelous Nakamba through injury, Rinomhota has played every minute for the Warriors since the turn of the year, including matches against Zambia, Kenya, and Lesotho.
Read: Chiefs-linked coach makes major 'call' on his future
Disclaimer: SNL24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on SNL24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of SNL24.