Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi, Zimpapers Sports Hub
TEENAGE winger Tadiwa Chakuchichi, has bright dreams for hosts Zimbabwe as the Young Warriors prepare for tough battles for the regional crown in the TotalEnergies Caf Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026 Cosafa Qualifiers to be staged in Harare next week.
Chakuchichi, who has distinguished himself in youth tournaments over the last two years, is one of Zimbabwe’s trump cards after also gaining invaluable experience playing for one of the leading local sides, Scottland.
The 16-year-old was part of the Zimbabwe side, which reached the semis at the last edition, and as a result narrowly missed qualification to this year’s Caf Under-17 Afcon finals.
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.
But for all their prowess as a regional powerhouse, Zimbabwe have only made the final of the Cosafa Men’s Under-17 Championship on one occasion, when they lifted the trophy in 2007.
However, Chakuchichi believes the Young Warriors have the capacity to break the jinx, only if they can balance between home comforts and the associated pressures.
“Yes, there is a lot of pressure because as hosts, there are going to be a lot of supporters just saying a lot of things and fans will be expecting a lot because they want us to win.
“But then, we are ready to show what we are made of and we are ready to just showcase our talents and just put in so much work just to win this whole tournament.
“We are ready to just show everyone that we are Zimbabwe and we are ready to just show that we can take Zimbabwe far even to the World Cup if they can believe in us, we are ready,” said Chakuchichi.
Zimbabwe reached the semifinals in 1994 but lost 5-1 to South Africa. They were beaten 1-0 by Zambia in the bronze-medal match.
Their crowning glory came in the 2007 competition as they topped their pool with wins over Angola (2-1) and Eswatini (3-1), that had followed a 1-1 draw with Namibia.
They defeated Zambia 5-4 on penalties in the semifinals after a 1-1 draw, and then edged South Africa again on spot-kicks (4-2 after a 1-1 draw) in the decider.
The Young Warriors were also in the semifinals in 2024 but lost 2-0 to Angola. There was no bronze-medal match on that occasion.
The team did not compete in 2016 and lost all three pool matches in 2017.
It was a similar story in 2018, and they did not compete in 2019, while the team was disqualified from the 2020 tournament after several players were deemed ineligible after failing MRI age tests.
They also skipped the 2021 and 2022 tournaments. They returned stronger and reached the semifinals last year.
Chakuchichi is among the survivors of that squad along with Pamushana goalkeeper Siyanda Zimba, Awakhiwe Tshalibe of Chicken Inn, Tatenda Maulidi of Legends Academy, Scottland sensation Tadiwa Chakuchichi and striker Elshadai Sadomba of Golden Eagles.
The 25-man squad is a product of extensive scouting conducted by head coach Thulani Sibanda and his technical team in the last month.
“The camp has been great. We have been in camp for a week now. And I feel like as boys we are getting together while we are preparing for the tournament.
“We are having fun every day. Just putting in the hard work and the hard shift to pull out the results. Everyone wants to win, so we also want to win. So, we are just preparing for that,” said Chakuchichi.
The squad in the camp also includes foreign-based players like Jameson Nduna (Supersport Utd), Takudzwa Chinyowa (Leeds United) and Irvine Mtungwazi (Ubuntu Cape Town).
“At the beginning it was hard because we all speak different languages. Some from South Africa, some from UK, some from Harare, some from Bulawayo.
“At the beginning, everyone was just with their people. But now I feel like we are gelling in while we are getting to know each other more. And I feel like that’s why we went into camp so early, just to gel with each other,” said Chakuchichi.
The Young Warriors camp received a huge boost following the visit from Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Anselem Sanyatwe and his deputy Emily Jesaya, who pledged Government’s support.
“It means a lot to us, just for them to take time from their busy schedule as Ministers to come and watch us,” said Chakuchichi.
The TotalEnergies Caf Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2026 | Cosafa Qualifiers will be staged in Harare from September 11-20 with 12 teams hoping to reach the continental finals that are set to be held next year.
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 like the 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.
Zimbabwe U’17 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).
Last five tournament finishes
2019 – Did not enter
2020 – Disqualified
2021 – Did not enter
2022 – Did not enter
2024 – Semifinals
