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Zimbabwe Warriors Captain Benjani Signs With Manchester City for 3.9 Million Pounds


Warriors Captain and Portsmouth striker Benjani Mwaruwaru has signed with the U.K. club Manchester City for nearly 3.9 million pounds over two and a half years.

His compensation will increase from the original 3.87 million pounds "according to his appearances for the club," London's Telegraph newspaper reported.

The Telegraph said Manchester had tried to back out of the deal at the last minute, but the Premier League ruled at the request of Portsmouth, which Benjani joined in 2006 from French club Auxerre, that the deal closed before a transfer deadline.

Benjani, 29, is Portsmouth's top scorer this season with 12 goals.

Reports in the Manchester Evening News said the player is expected to debut with his new team on Sunday at Old Trafford. Former Warriors national team coach Charles Mhlauri hailed Mwaruwaru’s move, saying it would promote the striker’s professionalism while showcasing Zimbabwean talent.

Meanwhile, in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, host Ghana was set to play Cameroon Thursday for a place in the semi-finals to be played on Sunday. Ivory Coast was set to play Egypt in the semi-final match seeking a spot in the finals.

The losers will play on Saturday for third and fourth place honors.

VOA sports reporter Sonny Young told Marvellous Mhlanga-Nyahuye of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that Ghana, while tipped to take the Africa Cup, will have an uphill battle against Cameroon when the two teams meet on Thursday.

More reports from VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe...

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