adminaccount of their good performances in the previous editions of the tournament.
Mauritius confirmed themselves as the Warriors opponents at the weekend when they beat fellow Indian Ocean rivals Comoros Islands in a two-legged preliminary round tie.
Despite settling for a 0-0 draw away on Saturday, Mauritius qualified on a 2-0 victory from the first leg played two weeks ago at home.
The first round matches of the qualifiers are scheduled to start during the weekend of June 21-23 next year, two weeks after Zimbabwe host Egypt in their return leg of the World Cup qualifiers.
The Chan tournament is reserved for players plying their trade in the local leagues. The Warriors will open their campaign away in Mauritius and then return home to host the islanders for the second leg on July 28.
If Zimbabwe progress from the first round, they will meet either Botswana or Zambia in the second round with the winners going to the finals in South Africa. Southern African neighbours Mozambique also pulled through to the first round on a 6-1 aggregate victory over minnows Seychelles.
Mozambique followed up their impressive 4-0 first leg win with a 2-1 victory at the weekend.
Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Guinea also made it to the next stage. Mauritania defeated Liberia 2-1 to qualify 3-1 on aggregate, having won the first leg 1-0 in Monrovia while Guinea drew 1-1 away to Sierra Leone.
The teams had also drawn 0-0 in Conakry two weeks ago and Guinea qualified on away goals rule.
Burkina Faso eliminated Togo 3-1 on aggregate. Zimbabwe have played at the previous two editions of the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan.
Online Reporter