United States-based Noel Zimbeva is yet to report to the Zimbabwe Under-23 camp as changes continue to surround the squad ahead of the Young Warriors' AFCON qualifying encounter against Mauritius on September 30 at the National Sports Stadium.
Zimbeva, who turns 23 later this year, was among the players linked with the U23 set-up, but his absence from camp has added another layer of uncertainty to a squad that has already undergone several changes since the initial selection.
Players born before January 1, 2005, are not eligible for the qualification pathway towards the 2028 Olympic Games, including the preceding U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tournaments. As a result, Zimbeva and other players born before the cut-off date fall outside the applicable age requirements for the current Olympic qualification cycle.
The situation, however, raises questions about how the initial squad was compiled and whether all the players initially considered had been checked against the competition regulations before being called up.
The same issue has reportedly affected Tadiwanshe Huni, who was born in 2004 and is no longer with the U23 group. Huni was understood to have been released back to FC Hunters after ZIFA's competitions manager sent a release letter to the club.
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The circumstances surrounding that release have added to the confusion, with the letter reportedly having been sent before the relevant competition regulations had been fully considered.
While some players linked to the initial squad have not reported for camp, others who were not included on the original list are now training with the team.
FC Hunters' Junior Meya and TelOne's Allan Chapinduka are among those now reported to be in camp despite being left out of the initial squad announcement.
El Shaddai Sadomba has also joined the group and is now part of preparations for the Mauritius qualifier.
However, ZIFA has not publicly issued a detailed explanation for Zimbeva's absence, the changes to the initial squad or the circumstances surrounding Huni's release.
The players currently reported to be in camp are Kaunda Joseph, Zulu Darrel, Nkomo Richard, Chigumbu Last Junior, Bracking Miles, Gwanzura Takudzwa, Chibika Garie Junior Brendon, Ndovu Prince, Garthwaite Jayen, Pfupa Elisha, Wafawarova Taropafadzwa, Munikwa Jayden, Chikowero Tatenda, Munemo Tanaka, Meya Junior, Chapinduka Allan, Nisbet Muzenda, El Shaddai Sadomba, Seth Chingwaro and David Chigwada.
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