The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has hit back at claims by Marshall Munetsi that he was unfairly left out of the Warriors’ final squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Munetsi, who plays for English Premier League side Wolves, was omitted from the final list after sustaining a calf injury during last Wednesday’s match against Nottingham Forest. In a public post, the midfielder suggested the injury was not serious and claimed his club was prepared to fast-track his recovery to allow him to feature at AFCON.
ZIFA, however, insists the situation was not as straightforward. In a detailed statement, the association revealed that Wolves never provided the required medical clearance for the player to participate in the tournament.
“Following Mr Marshall Munetsi’s expressed willingness to represent Zimbabwe despite the injury, ZIFA formally requested a written letter of consent and a liability waiver from his club,” the association said.
ZIFA explained that such documentation is mandatory under the FIFA Club Protection Programme, which regulates insurance, compensation and liability when injured professional players are released for international duty.
The association added that Munetsi was informed throughout the process that the necessary paperwork had not been received. By the time CAF’s deadline for squad submission arrived, the clearances were still outstanding.
“In the absence of these clearances, ZIFA could not lawfully expose both the Association and the player’s club to uninsured risk and regulatory non-compliance,” the statement continued.
As a result, ZIFA said the Warriors’ head coach had no choice but to select players who were fully fit, medically cleared, insured and eligible in line with CAF regulations and FIFA player protection rules.