Ajax Cape Town centre back Eric Chipeta who is one of the biggest candidates to partner Costa Nhamoinesu in the heart of defence during the Africa Cup of Nations 2017 believes he was dropped by Warriors head coach Calisto Pasuwa towards the end of the qualification campaign due to his poor form.

''It's one of those things you have to look back at. What was I doing the first games of the campaign, the good part about it and those last games why I didn't,” said Chipeta.

“It’s one of things where my form dropped. ''

Chipeta who scored a spectacular free-kick for his South African side in their 2-1 defeat to Wits on Wednesday says he is working hard to regain his place in the senior mens' national team.

"As a player all the time when a national team selection is being called up you wish to be there but you must respect the coach’s decision.”

The former Hwange player says if he is excluded like what happened in the last part of the successful qualification campaign, he will understand why.

"I must respect his decision because the coach is the one you knows the players availability and form, preferred players that he wants to play.

''In football we have systems; maybe the coach prefers players that have heart or those who have speed. It’s one of things you have to accept as a player.

Speaking on the draw in which Zimbabwe are in Group B with Senegal, Tunisia and Algeria, Chipeta believes the Senegal game will be our toughest contrary to belief that the North Africans will give us a torrid time.