Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE Under-17 coach Thulani Sibanda has named a 25-member provisional squad for the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier to be staged in Harare next week.
The squad, a product of extensive scouting in the last month, includes some names from the CAF African Schools Football Championship | COSAFA Qualifier held in Zimbabwe in 2023.
These include Pamushana goalkeeper Siyanda Zimba, Awakhiwe Tshalibe of Chicken Inn, Tatenda Maulidi of Legends Academy, Scottland sensation Tadiwa Chakuchichi and striker El Shaddai Sadomba of Golden Eagles.
There were also places for foreign-based players that include Jameson Nduna (Supersport Utd), Takudzwa Chinyowa (Leeds United) and Irvine Mtungwazi (Ubuntu Cape Town).
Zimbabwe are hosting the regional Under-17 event for the first time. They will be joined by Mozambique, Comoros, Eswatini, Zambia, South Africa, Madagascar, Malawi, Angola, Botswana, Mauritius and Lesotho.
The Young Warriors were the seeded team in Group A along with Mozambique, Comoros and Eswatini, with only the top team in each pool and the best second-placed side advancing to the semifinals.
Regional powerhouses Zambia and South Africa will face each other in Group B, along with Madagascar and Malawi in what looks a Group of Death.
Zambia are the defending champions in the competition and the most successful side in its history, while South Africa are next on the list of most prolific winners.
Group C contains last year’s beaten finalists Angola, Botswana, Mauritius and Lesotho.
The event will take place from September 11-20 with 12 teams from the region competing for dominance, as well as the ticket to represent the region at next year’s Under-17 AFCON.
In the previous edition, the top three teams advanced to the TotalEnergies CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations finals, which in turn served as the qualifiers for the newly expanded 48-team FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Ten teams from the African continent qualify for the Under-17 World Cup.
Zimbabwe U17 Boys Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers: Victor Nyemba (Cardship), Ismail Lunat (St. John’s), Siyanda Zimba (Pamushana)
Defenders: Tapiwa Mautsa (St. George’s), Seth Musarapachena (Young Bafana), Fortune Ncube (Zebras Revolution), Ainsley Murapa (Betis Academy), Christian Mpande (Guinea Fowl), Prince Chimwakale (Legends Academy), Tanaka Machaka (Cardship)
Midfielders: Tawananyasha Chisuse (BUSE), Rufadzo Hussein (St. George’s / Golden Eagles), Jameson Nduna (Supersport Utd), Munashe Ncube (Guinea Fowl), Darrel Zulu (Rusununguko), Awakhiwe Tshalibe (Chicken Inn), Takudzwa Chinyowa (Leeds United)
Forwards: Tatenda Maulidi (Legends Academy), Elshadai Sadomba (St. John’s / Golden Eagles), Tadiwa Chakuchichi (Scottland), Irvine Mtungwazi (Ubuntu Cape Town), Mbonisi Ndlovu (Nakaluba School), Tapiwa Gutu (Lions Academy), Dwayne Musona (Majesa), Thabile Zulu (Biya for Friends)
Technical Team:
Head Coach: Thulani Sibanda
Assistant Coach: Backylfield Chivenga
Keepers Coach: Reginald Buhali
Fitness Trainer: Brighton Chandisaita
Team Manager: Asani Nhongo
Team Doctor: Desire Mutsvene
Physiotherapist: Cyril Mangwanda
Media Officer: Sindiso Dube
Safeguarding Officer: Stephen Muriri
