DESPITE being  placed in Pot 4 and certain to be drawn in the same group with one of the continental giants Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana or hosts Gabon – when the Afcon draw is conducted in Libreville Wednesday night – Zimbabwe national team gritty linkman Danny “Deco” Phiri has warned Africa against underrating the Warriors.

Zimbabwe will know their opponents when the Confederation of African Football, CAF, conducts the draw that is scheduled to start at 7:30PM local time.

Being the lowest ranked nation, Zimbabwe are in the last pot alongside Togo, Uganda and Guinea Bissau and are sure to be drawn in the same group with one of Ghana, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire or hosts Gabon who are in Pot 1.

Either of Former champions Tunisia, Cameroon and Egypt or Senegal who are powered by Liverpool livewire winger Sadio Mane, will be in the same group with Zimbabwe making the Warriors task at the 2017 Afcon look tougher.

However, Phiri sounded unfazed when he spoke to SportsZone from his base at Golden Arrows in South Africa Wednesday morning.

“We will accept the underdog tag but we will not go to Gabon to make numbers. We will go and compete against whichever opponent, no matter how big,” declared Phiri.

“The collective effort from everyone will help us compete.”

The Golden Arrows defensive linkman believes the Warriors have quality players who can stand their own at the biennial soccer showpiece which kicks off on January 14.

Forward Khama Billiat has been in imperious form for Mamelodi Sundowns who are on the verge of clinching the CAF Champions League trophy after beating continental club football giants Zamalek 3-0 in the first leg of the final played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria last Saturday.

Knowledge Musona has refused to let the betting scandal cloud his head in Belgium where he is currently the second top goal scorer in the Belgian First Division A – the country’s top flight league.

“We have the players who can do it, right now Khama (Billiat) is involved in the Champions League final, that is priceless experience which will help us in the run up to Afcon 2017,” said Phiri.

The 2015 Zimbabwe Player of the Year is still adjusting to the environment at Golden Arrows having joined from Chicken Inn at the beginning of the 2016-2017 ABSA Premiership.

“(I am) still adjusting, not yet settled because I am still trying to understand everything but it has been good so far.”

Golden Arrows have 13 points from six matches and are second to ABSA Premiership pacesetters Kaizer Chiefs by virtue of an inferior goal difference.