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Cup of Nations qualifier against Mali in Bamako after sustaining a shoulder injury during his club’s South African Premiership assignment at the weekend.
Musona discolated his shoulder after coming worse off a tackle from Free State Stars’ Zambian goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
Kaizer Chiefs and Free State drew 1-1 in that match with Amakhosi needing a late equaliser from midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala to force a share of the spoils.
But by the time Chiefs found their equaliser, Musona had been stretchered off after Mweene caught him with his right boot just as the Warriors international – who was in full speed – sought to place the ball beyond the advancing goalkeeper.
Musona was then immediately rushed to a Johannesburg hospital where he underwent a scan on Sunday morning.
The Warriors are expected to go into camp in Harare on March 20 ahead of their crucial Group A qualifier against the Eagles of Mali in the sauna-like conditions of Bamako six days later.
But Musona – who was included in the 23-man side announced by coach Norman Mapeza last Friday – is now a major doubt for that important game in which the Warriors need a result in Bamako to stay in contention in a Group A that is topped by surprise packages Cape Verde who have four points.
The Warriors have two points from as many draws against Liberia (1-1 away) and Cape Verde (0-0 at home).
Musona was the scorer of the Warriors goal in the brave draw against the Lone Star in Libreville last September.
The 20-year-old Musona also featured for the Warriors against Cape Verde at the National Sports Stadium.
But he now looks set to miss the trip to Bamako amid revelations that his shoulder may take up to three weeks to heal.
Musona, speaking from his base in Johannesburg yesterday, said the Kaizer Chiefs doctors had indicated to him that he could be out for up to three weeks.
The former Black Aces Youth Academy forward said the scan had revealed that the shoulder was not as badly damaged as initially feared.
Musona said although he was on the mend, he was still feeling pain.
“I went for an X-ray and was told that it was a Grade two injury. The shoulder has gone back into its position but I am still in pain.
“I am still feeling pain in the shoulder. I am not training but I am just going to the gym in the morning for cycling.
“I don’t know whether I will recover in time for the Mali match, but I would like to play and hope I will be fine by then.
“I will be going back for review next week and I will have to wait and hear what the doctors say,” said Musona.
The striker might have been struggling for scoring form of late, but he remains a key part of the Warriors’ aspirations to be part of the Nations Cup jamboree next year.
The 2012 edition of the Nations Cup will be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
The top teams from each group and the two best runners-up from the groups qualify for the 16-team biennial tournament.
Despite struggling for scoring form, Musona still leads the race for the Absa Premiership Golden Boot award having struck 11 times for Amakhosi and is one ahead of rejuvenated Mamelodi Sundowns striker Katlego Mphela and Amazulu’s Lehlohonolo Majoro and two ahead of compatriot Nyasha Mushekwi.
The foreign contingent of the Warriors is expected to start trooping into the country next weekend with the team set to leave at dawn on March 23 for Bamako.
Warrior’s coach Mapeza said news of Musona’s injury was a sad development in that he is one of the key strikers his team will be banking on.
“Our doctor Munyonga (Nicholas) is talking to Kaizer Chiefs doctors and we will hear from him.
“But it is part of football, players get injured it is not something new. We are just hoping that his injury is not that bad because he is an important player.
“We will meet as the technical team after we get a report from Munyonga. We should have another plan as the technical team and see whether we can come up with replacements.
“This is a crucial match and we don’t want to take any risks. I know that Chiefs are a professional club and would carefully assess the injury before clearing the player.
“So we will just wait for the report and take it up from there,” said Mapeza.
However, the former Warriors captain could not be drawn into revealing the players he may consider as replacements for Musona.
But Mapeza and his assistant Joey Antipas could look at former Motor Action striker Musa Mguni who is playing in Cyprus and Cuthbert Malajila who is currently in the country after fleeing trouble-torn Libya where he is plying his trade.
Last night, Warriors doctor Munyonga said he was yet to get in touch with the Kaizer Chiefs team doctor but was hopeful the national team’s medical crew would have a chance to make their own assessment of the extent of Musona’s injury.
“When I tried to talk to his doctor, he was doing a procedure. But usually shoulder dislocations we give them three weeks.
“Definitely he should come here so that we make our own assessment,” said Munyonga.