Egypt is expected to start their African Cup of Nation campaign with a win following the misery that is currently facing their opening match opponents, Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe national team are at loggerheads with Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) on the eve of their Africa Cup of Nations opener against hosts Egypt due to the non-payment of allowances, a source within the camp has confirmed.
Reports emerged in the local dailies on Thursday that the Warriors had refused to train and were threatening to boycott Friday evening’s opener against the Pharaohs at the Cairo International Stadium if ZIFA didn’t honour an agreement signed in May.
“They haven’t paid,” a member of Zimbabwe’s travelling party said on Thursday when asked to confirm that some members of the squad had proposed a boycott. “We are still waiting.
On Monday, one ZIFA representative denied any wrongdoing by the board stating that there was an agreement that players will be paid their allowances on Friday morning, a few hours before their match against the Pharaohs.
“Deliberations were ongoing, but there was never a time when we said we were not talking to each other,” ZIFA board member for finance Philemon Machana told ZTN News. “ZIFA have contracts signed by each and every player, so, as far as we are concerned, everyone signed, ZIFA signed.
What next?
No official report has confirmed that the Warriors have changed their mind and all will be waiting to see what will transpire in the course of the day before the match begins.
Will they play or boycott? This is the question that many have been left asking themselves.