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Key striker Knowledge Musona says Zimbabwe aim to be the “Ajax Amsterdam” of the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt starting later this month, hoping to surprise with a run deep into the competition.
Zimbabwe have been drawn in Group A along with the hosts, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, and are aiming to get out of the pool stages for the first time in their history after taking just one point from three matches in Gabon two years ago.
“We have a good team with good quality, and we are working hard to correct the mistakes from the last tournament,” Musona told Reuters at the team’s training camp in Durban.
“We have enough experience and our initial target is to pass out from the group stages for the first time.”
Musona, who is contracted to Belgian side Anderlecht but played part of last season on loan at Lokeren, says Zimbabwe is confident of progression despite being “underdogs” after topping a qualification pool that also included DR Congo.
Musona adds that one of the keys to their achievement in qualifying for successive Nations Cup tournaments has been the fact that many of the players have been together since featuring for the Zimbabwe Under-17 side.
Zimbabwe will face Nigeria in a friendly in Lagos on Saturday, a chance for the squad to assess their readiness for the June 21-July 19 continent
