Munakandafa Marks Official First Team Debut For Notts County

It was a big night for Zimbabwe’s rising teenage forward Luther Munakandafa as he was handed his full first team debut at Notts County in their 2-1 loss to Wolves on Tuesday in an an FA cup group stage encounter.

The 19-year-old former Zimbabwe under-17s star was thrown in the first eleven for the first time and played full game as the Magpies began their group stage matches with a defeat.

Notts County are in Group G of the FA cup alongside Wolves, Derby County and Lincoln City.

Munakandafa who can play as an outright striker or as a winger, will be hoping to further his first-team experience this term having spent time out on loan in 2022-23 season.

He featured for Basford United where he made 22 senior appearances in all competitions, making a huge ten goal contribution – (four goals plus two assist) before moving to Boston United where he made seven appearances over the course of last season helping the team to three wins two draws and two loses, while continuing to train regularly with the first team.

The teenage forward signed his first professional contract with English league two (fourth tier) side Notts County in June 2022 having joined the Magpies academy in 2021 from Nottingham Forest.

Notts County have enjoyed a strong start to life back in the English Football League (EFL) and currently sit in second place, only trailing leaders Gillingham by a point.

Munakandafa was part of the Young Warriors Under-17 squad that represented Zimbabwe at the COSAFA Cup tournament in 2020.

The talented forward is in the company of Lucien Mahovo (18) and Adam Chicken (30) the other two Zimbabweans who are in the books of Notts County.

*Story Image credit to Luther Munakandafa IG