Four key players withdrew from the national team ahead of the AFCON tournament.
29 December 2021
Jeremiah Harrison
Sports Reporter
Iceland based midfielder, Kundai Benyu has been a surprise inclusion in the Warriors 2022 AFCON squad.
Information gathered say Benyu will join the rest of the squad in Cameroon alongside Knowledge Musona, Jordan Zemura, David Moyo, Tino Kadewere and Admiral Muskwe.
According to a source close to Benyu, he was not part of the provisional squad but he has found his way into the squad for the AFCON.
The final squad is yet to be announced.
Benyu was born to Zimbabwean parents on 12 December 1997 in Camden Town, London. He grew up in Harlow, Essex.
Benyu joined Ipswich Town at the age of nine, signing his first professional contract after turning 17.
On 7 December 2016, Benyu joined Aldershot Town on a one-month loan. The loan was subsequently extended several times, allowing Benyu to finish the 2016–17 season with the National League side.
On 29 June 2017, Benyu had signed a four-year contract with Celtic. The midfielder scored on his first appearance for the club’s development squad, in a pre-season friendly against East Kilbride. Benyu made his competitive debut in Celtic’s 4–0 victory over Linfield at Celtic Park.
On 6 January 2018, Benyu joined Oldham Athletic on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season. He made his league debut for the club on 13 January 2018 in a 1–1 home draw with Rotherham United. He was subbed off in the 74th minute, and replaced by Aaron Amadi-Holloway.
Benyu joined Swedish club Helsingborg on a season-long loan in February 2019.
Benyu signed for Wealdstone on 2 October 2020. On 19 February 2021, Benyu departed by mutual consent after making twelve league appearances for the club.
In February 2021, he moved to Icelandic 1 deild side Vestri.
Benyu’s impressive performances for Aldershot Town earned him international recognition, receiving a call-up from Zimbabwe for their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia.
He made his full international Zimbabwe debut in a 1–0 defeat to Lesotho in Maseru on 8 November 2017.
Zimbabwe is set to leave for Cameroon on Wednesday, playing their first match against Senegal on the January 10.
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