Reviewed by Praise Dumi DhlakamaZimbabwe sports betting writer
Published 7 September 2026
Ramon Catala has named his first Zimbabwe squad, for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers away to Sierra Leone on 24 September and at home to DR Congo four days later.
It is the new coach’s first selection since taking the Warriors job, and it reaches beyond the settled group. Isaac Mabaya of Liverpool is called up, Marshall Munetsi of Wolves is retained, and Marley Tavaziva is included as a goalkeeper without a club.
Two matches inside five days
Zimbabwe play Sierra Leone on Thursday 24 September and DR Congo on Monday 28 September, the opening two matchdays of the qualifying group. CAF has confirmed both dates. Sierra Leone are staging their home fixture away from the country.
Zimbabwean outlets carried different squad totals on the day it was released, so the number of players called up is not settled. What is clear is the shape of the selection: a core of Europe based professionals, a heavy draw on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, and room for players who were not in the last squad.
Why the home match matters more than usual
CAF cleared the National Sports Stadium at the start of this month after a technical inspection, ending years in which Zimbabwe played its home qualifiers on neutral ground in other countries. The DR Congo match is the first home qualifier the Warriors have had since that clearance, and it arrives four days after a long trip.
AFCON 2027 is hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and the hosts take their places without qualifying. That leaves the rest of the continent competing for the remaining slots, and Zimbabwe open with an away match and a home match in the same window.
Where to bet: AFCON qualifiers are priced by Premier Bet and Betway, both operating under the Lotteries and Gaming Board, with match result, both teams to score and correct score, and outrights on the qualifying group. Stakes are taken in United States dollars, with deposits through EcoCash and OneMoney. A side that has not played a competitive home match in Harare for years has been priced without a home advantage, so watch how the two books handle the DR Congo match rather than assuming the old numbers hold. Our guide to the best betting sites in Zimbabwe covers licensing and payout times, and there is more in Zimbabwe soccer news from AXN Sports. 18+. Gamble responsibly.
