Key Zimbabwe players excused for friendly matches

Both influential midfielder Marshall Munetsi and experienced attacker Khama Billiat have been excused international duty this week by Zimbabwe after asking for time off during the November international window.

Munetsi was left out of the squad for the friendlies against Algeria and Qatar after a request from his Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are expected to confirm Rob Edwards as their new manager on Wednesday after Vitor Pereira was sacked on November 2 following a 10-game winless start to the Premier League season.

Billiat was excused on personal grounds while two players from new Zimbabwe champions Scotland – the veteran Knowledge Musona and free-scoring Tymon Machope – missed the trip to Saudi Arabia, where they play Algeria in Jeddah, because of injury.

Machope has a calf injury and Musona a hamstring strain.

Zimbabwe are playing two friendlies this week under new coach Mario Marinica, who has replaced German Michael Nees, who was fired after a disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign.

They meet Algeria in Jeddah on Thursday before going to Doha for a meeting with Qatar.

Zimbabwe share the same group at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco with Angola, Egypt, and South Africa.