Harare — Zimbabwe's Warriors - eager to re-establish themselves as a force on the continent - begin their long journey for a place at the 2012 African Cup of Nations when they face Liberia in a cagey assignment at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia tomorrow.

It has been a long and frustrating four years for the Warriors since they hogged the limelight with a battling show against a World Cup-bound Ghana at the 2006 Nations Cup in Egypt.

Such was the quality in their display on that memorable night in Egypt where the Warriors fell just a goal short of securing a quarter-final berth after upstaging the Black Stars 2-1 in their final group game.

The Warriors, then under Charles Mhlauri, had appeared to come of age and there was so much hope that Zimbabwe would build on their showing at that Nations Cup.

Sadly, the Warriors went on a free-fall, failing to qualify for the 2008 edition in Ghana and by the time they slumped to a humiliating 4-1 defeat at the hands of Namibia in their final 2010 Nations Cup qualifier, the senior side were a caricature of that outfit that stunned the Black Stars in Egypt.

From a team that was safely in the World's top 100 and among Africa's top 20, the Warriors slid to number 115 on the Fifa rankings and were barely recognisable as the team that had shown so much potential when reaching back-to- back Nations Cup finals in Tunisia in 2004 and Egypt two years later.

Tomorrow, caretaker coach Norman Mapeza and a new breed of Warriors begin the redemption bid for Zimbabwe to re-establish themselves as a force on the continent.

The Warriors, using a bunch of homegrown talent, have already secured a second successive appearance at the second tier African Championships of Nations finals scheduled for Sudan early next year. But Mapeza and his men know that the real money is on qualifying for the Nations Cup, African football's biggest showcase.

Mapeza, a fine defender who played European Champions League football and was the Warriors skipper for along time, might have failed to qualify for the Nations Cup during his playing career with the senior team, but he has always underscored the significance of being at the biennial showpiece.

The former Monomotapa coach also revealed the pain the Warriors and their merry band of supporters have had to endure after being reduced to armchair viewers of the last two editions of the Nations Cup.

"We have spoken about this game and we have said that we have to start well and enhance our chances of qualifying for the Nations Cup because it has been painful watching from television while other teams were taking part at the nations Cup and later on the World Cup.

"Every Zimbabwean wants their national team to be there at all these tournaments, whether it is the CHAN, World Cup, Nations Cup or Cosafa," Mapeza said.

While they have already sealed their place at the CHAN finals and while it's certain they will be in Angola at the end of the year to defend their Cosafa Senior Challenge title, the Warriors would have to battle long and hard to be among the Nations Cup finalists.

Co-hosts Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, the group winners, the Group K runners-up and the best two runners up from the other pools will make up the 2012 Nations Cup jamboree.

The Warriors and their fans will also be hoping that Benin match officials -- referee Koffi Codjia and his assistants Alex Fassinou, Prosper Padonou and Chabi Sahi -- uphold the spirit of Fair Play that has often lacked in such qualifiers in African football.

Tomorrow's Battle of Monrovia also presents five of Zimbabwe's internationals with a chance to revive their romance with the Warriors.

Left back Onismor Bhasera, now playing in the English League 1 with Plymouth Argyle, right back Noel Kaseke who is based in Cyprus, Al Hilal striker Edward Sadomba who has been a hit in the Sudanese top-flight, Poland-based midfielder Clemence Matawu and Justice Majabvi of LASK Linz in Austria, last featured for the Warriors in 2008.

Bhasera, Kaseke, Majabvi, Matawu and Sadomba could not be part of the Warriors' reunion show when the senior team played Brazil's World Cup side in a high-profile international friendly at the National Sports Stadium in June.

The quintet has, however, become an integral part of Mapeza's new-look Warriors and an expectant nation will be pinning their hopes on Majabvi, Sadomba, Bhasera, Matawu and Kaseke to transform their club form to the national team.

Sadomba has looked sharp in training and with Knowledge Musona and Nyasha Mushekwi as possible striking partners for him, the Warriors attack looks to have enough fire power to trouble the Lone Star.

Majabvi, speaking ahead of the Warriors' departure for Monrovia, said he was relishing the prospects of playing for his motherland again and added that he has noted a great deal of optimism, commitment and dedication in the side.

The former Lancashire Steel and Dynamos midfielder last played for the Warriors in the first leg of their final CHAN qualifier against South Africa in Pretoria in 2008.

"The last time I played for the Warriors, it was Mhofu's (Sunday Chidzambwa) first game in charge after he replaced Valinhos as coach.

"I am really proud to be back again for the national team and I have I've been waiting for this opportunity for a long time," Majabvi said.

He also reckoned that starting their campaign away from home could actually suit the Warriors in their qualification bid.

"It's really good to start away especially for the young players in the team and by the time we play at home, they would know what is expected of them in such matches".

Majabvi also spoke of his reunion with the likes of Kaizer Chiefs defender Thomas Sweswe, goalkeeper Washington Arubi, skipper Method Mwanjali, Matawu, Sadomba and Lionel Mtizwa in the Warriors.

"I am happy to reunite with the guys, its been long because all along we have just been talking to each other over the phone since there were no major international games, but now we meet once again for one cause which is the national cause. I think we are in a fair group, all the teams are very good and we respect them very much, but we have the platform to do better. These days it's difficult to say which is the weaker team and the stronger one . . . all of them are very good teams," Majabvi said.

The LASK Linz midfielder also challenged the Warriors to draw inspiration from Group K leaders Botswana, who have defied the odds to lead their five-team, pool which includes North African giants Tunisia, Togo, Malawi and Chad. Botswana travelled to Tunis for their opening qualifier and upstaged the Carthage Eagles with a 1-0 victory that set the tone for their campaign, in which, they lead the group with eight points after managing two wins and as many draws so far.

"They (Botswana) have been an inspiration to us, they beat Tunisia in Tunis and it has shown that nothing is impossible, we can also win in Monrovia. For the past few days I have been with the boys, they have shown a lot of commitment and discipline and I do believe they have the heart to do so well in this campaign," Majabvi said.

Denmark-based winger Quincy Antipas remained an injury worry, but assistant coach Brenna Msiska said the former Motor Action forward's ankle had shown signs of improvement.

"We have completed the major part of our preparations from home and we will resume once we arrive in Liberia and so far everything is fine. We rested Quincy today, but the good thing is that there is a lot of promise that he will heal in time.

"Since we are going on a charter flight, we have requested that we should take everyone who has been in camp to Liberia and that means we will only name the final 18 when we get there as this will give us time to assess those who have knocks,' Msiska.

Tomorrow's game should also present Sweswe and Bhasera with a chance to revive their rivalry with Lone Star skipper Antony Laffor who plays for SuperSport United in the South African Premiership.

Laffor is one of 14 foreign-based players called up by Hungarian coach Bertalan Bisckei for tomorrow's showdown.

It is the Hungarian's first game in charge since being appointed Lone Star coach, but the Warriors will not be bothered much about the expatriate mentor's search for a winning start.

Group A action will swing into life with Cape Verde hosting the Eagles of Mali today and Msiska said they would follow the events in Praia with keen interest.

Probable Warriors team:

W. Arubi, N. Kaseke, O. Bhasera, T. Sweswe, M. Mwanjali, A. Rambanapasi, C. Matawu, J. Majabvi, E. Sadomba, K. Musona, T. Rusike.