Zifa lies on Munetsi exclusion?

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has clarified the reasons behind the exclusion of Marshall Munetsi from the Warriors' Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad, stressing that the decision was guided by medical, procedural, and regulatory considerations.

ZIFA emphasized that player welfare was the overriding priority, and the choice was made in strict compliance with CAF regulations and the FIFA Club Protection Programme. The association confirmed it maintained continuous communication with Munetsi's club regarding his medical condition and availability for international duty, while the Warriors' head coach also kept direct contact with the player to ensure transparency and coordination across technical, medical, and administrative channels.

Medical reports indicated that Munetsi was managing an injury at the time final squad selections were made, and his participation fell outside automatic insurance coverage unless specific conditions were met. Despite Munetsi's willingness to represent Zimbabwe, ZIFA noted that the required written consent and liability waiver from his club were not received before the CAF squad submission deadline.

Without these documents, ZIFA stated it could not include Munetsi in the final squad without exposing all parties to uninsured risk. "ZIFA could not lawfully, responsibly, or ethically include Marshall Munetsi in the final squad," the association said, highlighting that the decision was entirely regulatory and medical in nature.