Warriors calls off strike

Normalcy has returned into the Warriors camp after players were paid their camping allowances and appearance fees, allowing them to return to training ahead of Sunday's crucial Sunday's 2026 FIFA World Cup Group C 'home' qualifier against Nigeria at the Huye Stadium, in Butare, Rwanda.

Players on Thursday downed tools and refused to go to a scheduled training session in protest over unpaid daily allowances and appearance fees.

But the standoff has since been resolved after the ZIFA Normalisation Committee (NC) transferred money into the players' bank accounts on Thursday night.

Player sources told this publication that they are returning to training which is scheduled for 3pm.

Zimbabwe will be looking to get their campaign off the ground with a win over the Super Eagles after they were held to a goalless draw by minnows Rwanda in their opening group match at the Huye Stadium on Wednesday.

Nigeria are also looking for their first victory of the campaign following a surprise 1-1 home draw against Lesotho on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the ever bungling Zifa Normalisation Committee have made an unprecedented move by blocking the traveling journalists from covering today's Warriors training session.

ZIFA are angry with the media for reporting of Thursday's training boycott.

"We regret to inform you that, as per standard procedure, our training session today is not open to the media," said the ZIFA Normalization Committee in a WatsApp message to the journalists here in Kigali.