Several familiar faces will feature for Zimbabwe in their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Bafana Bafana.

The matches will be held in South Africa next month.

The squad, named by coach Jairos Tapero, includes Divine Lunga of Mamelodi Sundowns, Douglas Mapfumo of Polokwane City striker, and Walter Musona – formerly of Polokwane City. Marshall Munetsi, who now plays for Stade de Reims in the French Ligue 1, also returns to the national team after stints with Baroka FC and Orlando Pirates.

Khama Billiat, who withdrew from international retirement, is not part of the squad although talks were said he was considering to retract.

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) announced that the team will assemble in Johannesburg on Sunday. Due to a lack of stadiums meeting CAF’s standards, Zimbabwe, like 17 other African nations, is banned from hosting matches. Consequently, they will host Lesotho at Orlando Stadium on 7 June, the same day South Africa plays Nigeria away.

Nigeria, Bafana Bafana, Lesotho, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Benin are all in Group C, with Rwanda currently leading the group surprisingly.

Following their match against Lesotho, Zimbabwe will face Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein on 11 June. They are seeking their first World Cup qualifying win since defeating Somalia in September 2019. Their recent form includes four losses and four draws in their last eight matches.

Zimbabwe’s World Cup qualifiers began in November last year with promising draws away to Rwanda and at home (played in Rwanda due to the hosting ban) against Nigeria.