Harare, (New Ziana) – The Zimbabwe senior men’s national football team, the Warriors, was on Tuesday evening expected to face Niger in an international friendly match in Casablanca, Morocco.

The match would be the second friendly for the Warriors in Morocco, following a 2-0 defeat to Burkina Faso last Friday in Mohammédia, and the team was looking to bounce back with a stronger performance against a Niger side that edged Gabon 4-3 in their last outing.

Although official broadcast details for the match were yet to be confirmed, they were expected to be announced ahead of kick-off.

The Warriors have had a turbulent build-up to the fixture, with media reports emerging earlier in the week that players had threatened to boycott the match over unpaid allowances after the Burkina Faso match.

The situation prompted swift response from the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA), whose president Nqobile Magwizi acknowledged the concerns and pledged to resolve the issue.

Magwizi, who recently took office, said ZIFA is working towards meeting all obligations, and emphasized the need to rebuild trust as well as create a new culture of professionalism within the association.

He also confirmed that ZIFA has engaged the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and various stakeholders for financial support.

ZIFA made part payment to the players before priotising accommodation, flights and other expenses involved in arranging the Burkina Faso and Niger matches.

Despite the off-field issues, the Warriors are expected to field a competitive side as they aim to end their Moroccan tour on a high note under Michael Nees.

New Ziana