Former Zimbabwe captain Willard Katsande has pulled no punches regarding the omission of Marshall Munetsi from the Warriors’ AFCON 2025 squad, labelling the situation a massive failure in management.
As Zimbabwe prepares to face Egypt in their Group B opener this Monday, the absence of the Wolverhampton Wanderers star continues to overshadow the team’s preparations.
Katsande, a legendary figure in Zimbabwean football, expressed his disbelief after Munetsi was left out due to an injury sustained during Wolves’ 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest earlier this month in the English Premier League.
While coach Marian Marinica confirmed the midfielder had not fully recovered, the player later took to Instagram to dispute the narrative, claiming “decisions were made without clarity” and citing a major miscommunication regarding his fitness.
Speaking to FARPost, former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Katsande argued that Munetsi’s value to the national team transcends his physical presence on the field.
A LEADER BEYOND THE PITCH: MUNETSI
“I think there was a communication breakdown between the association [ZIFA] and Munetsi’s team, [Wolves]”, Katsande stated. “Marshall is not just a player; he is a big player, and he is a captain. He brings so many dimensions—he can play as a centre-back, a six, or a number nine.”
Katsande insisted that even if the injury was significant, the association should have fought to have the Premier League star in the camp. He believes Munetsi’s presence in the dressing room would have been a vital psychological boost for the squad’s younger players.
“Even if the injury was bad, we were supposed to bring him on board and assess him. The fact that he is a key figure in the locker room… if he tells a youngster, ‘You can do it,’ that player will take his word and actually fight.”
The loss of Munetsi is a bitter pill for the Warriors. The midfielder had been a cornerstone of their qualifying campaign, featuring in every competitive match in 2025. In his absence, the leadership mantle now falls heavily on Luton Town’s Marvelous Nakamba, who will be tasked with stabilising a midfield missing its most versatile engine.
Zimbabwe faces a “baptism of fire” as they kick off their 2025 AFCON Group B campaign against the tournament’s most decorated side, Egypt, on Monday, 22 December, with kick-off set for 22:00 at the Stade de Marrakech in Morocco.
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