Zim in Cosafa Under-20 draw

Raymond Jaravaza
ZIMBABWE will know its opponents in the group stages of the Cosafa Under-20 Championship when the draw is conducted in South Africa on Wednesday.

The tournament makes a return after a three-year sabbatical and this yeara��s edition to be played in Rustenburg, North West Province in South Africa is sponsored by cement manufacturer PPC.

South Africa were the last winners of the tournament in 2013 beating Kenya 2-0 in Lesotho.

The yeara��s tournament will see 14 countries taking part, with Rwanda coming as a guest nation to replace Cosafa side Madagascar, who have declined to participate.

The 14 countries will be placed into two groups of four and another two of three.

It remains to be seen if Zifa will send the Young Warriors to the regional tournament after the national football mother body withdrew the national Under-17 side from the 2017 Orange Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers citing lack of funds.

Zimbabwe was supposed to meet the Comoro Islands in a first round, first leg away tie of the qualifiers in June but Zifa failed to secure funding for the trip.

At the time Chiyangwa said Zifa would assess the costs and benefits of participating in future international tournaments but would avoid partaking in competitions when there was no adequate funding.

Association spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said a decision to take part in the Cosafa Under-20 Championship would be made in due course.

The tournament will be held from 7 to 16 December.

Countries in the draw:

South Africa

Angola

Zimbabwe

Mozambique

Lesotho

Namibia

Lesotho

Comoros

Botswana