Zimbabwe face Mauritius in U-23 AFCON qualifiers

ZIMBABWE’S Under-23 side will face Mauritius in the second round of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with the Young Warriors set for a two-legged battle in November.

The first leg is scheduled for November 9, with the return leg set for November 17, as Zimbabwe begin their bid to reach the 2027 continental finals to be hosted by Egypt.

The Young Warriors will be looking to negotiate the Mauritius hurdle successfully, knowing that a place in the next stage could bring a significantly tougher assignment.

Should Zimbabwe eliminate Mauritius, they will face Mali in the next round of the qualifiers, setting up a potentially demanding test on their route to the finals.

The qualification campaign carries added significance as the U-23 AFCON serves as the pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, United States.

CAF confirmed on August 10 that Egypt had been selected to host the 2027 U-23 AFCON, although the dates and host cities for the tournament have yet to be announced.