Warriors AFCON qualification impacts 2016/17 ABSA PSL

Zimbabwe's qualification for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, finals in Gabon puts pressure on the 2016-2017 ABSA South African Premier League Season.

Reports say there was the possibility that the ABSA PSL would begin their season earlier since South Africa failed to qualify for the prestigious African soccer showpiece.

But with Zimbabwe having a number of players at PSL clubs, their visit to Gabon for the finals means that the likes of Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, BidVest Wits, Orlando Pirates, Golden Arrows and Maritzburg United could all lose key players over that period.

The Warriors squad has quite a number of players who ply their trade in the South African PSL.

These include the Mamelodi Sundowns duo of Khama Billiat and Cuthbert Malajila, Orlando Pirates' Tendai Ndoro, Golden Arrows' Kuda Mahachi and Willard Katsande of Kaizer Chiefs.

The PSL had been considering not breaking for the Nations Cup tournament, as it has for previous finals, due to the likelihood of Bafana Bafana qualifying being slim.

Now it has transpired they are out of the running.

With Zimbabwe now emerging a finalist for the first time in a decade the picture is significantly altered and the PSL will now likely stop just before Christmas and only resume in early February – imposing a significant hole in the calendar.