A Mamelodi Sundowns star looks set to miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers between Southerners, Bafana Bafana and The Warriors of Zimbabwe.
Bafana Bafana are set to host Zimbabwe on Tuesday evening at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. The match is slated for 18h00 [CAT].
In Group C, Bafana are fourth with four points on their tally. Zimbabwe anchor the six-team group with 2 points.
And after the 1-1 draw with Nigeria on Friday, the Hugo Broos-led side wants to collect maximum points against Zimbabwe, who lost 2-0 to Lesotho.
As it stands, the Zimbabwe technical team is sweating over the fitness of left-back Divine Lunga, who is nursing an ankle injury.
Lunga, the Mamelodi Sundowns star, was injured during Zimbabwe’s defeat to Lesotho on Friday at the Orlando Stadium. As a result he has been sidelined at training. He missed their first training session in Bloemfontein on Sunday evening.
Results from the scans conducted show that there is no tear or break on the ankle. They have one more training on Monday evening before the match to ascertain his fitness.
Lunga, one of the two DStv Premiership players in Zimbabwe’s team could be replaced by Udinese star Jordan Zemura. Last time out, Zemura started as a left-wing and could be dropped behind to fill the void.
Meanwhile, they have called in Richard Hachiro as a replacement for Brandon Galloway, who failed to travel due to injury.
LUNGA LIKELY TO MISS OUT AS WARRIORS COACH PROMISES TO MAKE CHANGES
Crucially, head coach Jairos Tapera has hinted at making changes from the team that lost to Lesotho.
SuperSport United target Donovan Bernard could be dropped for Dynamos goalkeeper Martin Mapisa. The centre-back pairing of Teenage Hadebe and Gerald Takwara is likely to be changed.
“We were disappointed with the result against Lesotho. We played good football, but we often switched off when it mattered, and we were duly punished,” Tapera is quoted by The Herald.
“But we can’t continue to cry over spilt milk with the battle against South Africa beckoning. Yes, we will need to play around the squad and certainly, we will make some changes.
“If you look at different areas in the field of play, judging from the manner with which we played against Lesotho, you will see that we really need to tinker with the team a bit.
“The changes won’t be wholesale, though, but we definitely need to do so. All the players are doing well, and everyone is eager to perform to the best of their abilities. And that is a healthy situation to have in the camp.
“Everyone is motivated, and we will see how we come up with the changes when we face South Africa on Tuesday,” added Tapera.
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