Chronicle Editor
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Under-23 national team will take on Mozambique in the Total African Cup of Nations second round qualifier in March 2019.
The Young Warriors were exempted in the first round where Mozambique beat eSwatini on the away goals’ rule following a 0-0 and 1-1 stalemates.
According to Zifa, both legs will be played within the same international break probably between March 20 and 24, 2019.
The first-leg will be played in Mozambique.
Former Ngezi Platinum Stars head coach Tonderayi Ndiraya will be in charge of the Young Warriors.
The winners over the two-legged qualifier will clash with either Angola or South Africa, who will battle it out in the other second round encounter.
Other teams through to the second round include Malawi, who will play against Zambia, Burundi, who meet Congo Brazzaville, Algeria, who take on Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon, who have been paired with Sierra Leone.
South Sudan take on Tunisia, Niger will meet Cote D’Ivore, Guinea take on Senegal, Sudan meets Kenya, Libya will clash with Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo will square off against Morocco, with Ethiopia and Mali finishing off the second round groups.
A total of eight teams will qualify for the finals that will be held in Egypt.
These matches also serve as the first stage of the Caf qualifiers for the 2020 Summer Olympics men’s football tournament in Japan.
derick.khumalo