Why Munetsi will be Zimbabwe's weapon in the World Cup qualifiers

Zimbabwean international midfielder Marshal Munetsi will be in action with Stade de Reims against Lorient in a French Ligue 1 match this Saturday.

The attacker started last Sunday away to Toulouse in a match that ended in a one-all draw.

Munetsi has proved to be an important figure for Reims in recent seasons.

Together with the trio of Marvellous Nakamba, who plays for Luton Town, Lyon’s Tino Kadewere, and Udinese left back, Jordan Zemura, they are expected to lead the Warriors when they face Rwanda and Nigeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier next month.

Zimbabwe’s midfielder Marshall Munetsi and Egypt’s midfielder Walid Soliman fight for the ball during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations at Cairo International Stadium on June 21, 2019. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)

Munetsi has appeared in all nine of the team’s Ligue 1 games in 2023/2024. He started eight games, came off the bench once, and logged 735 minutes of playing time.

The midfielder ranks second in assists this Ligue 1 campaign, having assisted three goals for his teammates.

He is tied with fellow African and Gabonese international Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, who is playing for Olympic Marseille.

In addition, he has netted two goals, making him the team’s second-top league scorer.

It was versus Olympique Lyonnais on October 1 when Munetsi last scored, netting in a 2-0 win. His opening goal of the campaign came in the 2-0 victory against Clermont on August 20.

Last season for Reims, Munetsi made 34 Ligue 1 appearances, scored seven goals, and provided three assists.

Before moving to Reims in July 2019, Munetsi made 28 league appearances in total at Orlando Pirates.