Former Warriors left back Charles Yohane believes Zimbabwe can upset the apple cart and reach the knockout stages of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, ahead of their Group B opener on Sunday.

The Warriors get their continental campaign up and running against Algeria this weekend (17h00) at the Stade Franceville, in a group that also has Senegal and Tunisia.

Having featured in both of Zimbabwe’s appearances at this tournament, in 2004 and 2006, Yohane speaks with authority.

“Have we ever been in an easier group?” asks Yohane as he throws his thoughts on the latest challenge facing this group of Warriors.

True to Yohane’s word, Zimbabwe have previously found themselves with their backs against the walls in the group stages, facing Algeria, Cameroon and Egypt in 2004 and then Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria two years.

In both instances, they failed to find a way through to the knockout stages, but this year the former Wits University, AmaZulu, African Wanderers and FC AK utility man Yohane feels it will be different.

He said: “This is all about confidence and believing that this can be done. The negative energy of doubting yourselves must never be there. If the fans believe that it can be done it also rubs on positive on the players. That is the spirit that needs to be penetrating into the dressing room from outside because The Warriors have never been in an easy group after all. I know we are going in as the underdogs but we should make that work to our advantage.

“I feel we have confidence players who cannot be intimidated by anything. I don’t expect Khama (Billiat) to feel intimidated by Sadio Mane or Riyad Mahrez. With us it was different because we had to deal with Patrick M’boma, Geremi, Papa Bouba Diop and JJ Okocha. Still, in as much as we have an attack that has us excited it is going to be tough with the experience our only disadvantage because we are up against teams that are always at the Nations Cup. However, this being tournament football we just need to avoid defeat in the first game. I feel with this group of Warriors it is possible to get into the knockout stages, all we need is just to believe,” says Yohane.

The 43-year-old is now involved in coaching juniors.