By Tapiwa Chawagarira
HARARE — Zimbabwe’s Young Warriors will take another important step towards the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Under-23 finals and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games when they host Mauritius at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow evening.
The first leg of the two-match qualifier is scheduled for a 6pm kick-off, with the return leg set for October 6 at the Côte d’Or National Sports Complex in Mauritius.
The winner on aggregate will progress to the next stage of the qualifying race, where Mali await.
For coach Marc Sanchez, the encounter represents his first competitive assignment with the Young Warriors and an opportunity to begin building a new generation of players who could eventually graduate to the senior Warriors.
The Spanish coach, assisted by former ZIFA technical director Wilson Mutekede, has assembled a youthful squad featuring players from the domestic Premier Soccer League and a number of Zimbabwean prospects developing abroad.
The squad has attracted considerable interest because of the number of foreign-based youngsters included. They include Aston Villa goalkeeper Jayen Garthwaite, Norwich City players Takudzwa Gwanzura, Jayden Munikwa and Miles Bracking, Portsmouth forward Elisha Pfupa, Peterborough striker Vernon Masara, Brentford forward David Chigwada and Newcastle Jets defender Taropafadzwa Wafawarova.
There is also senior-team experience in the group, with players such as Sean Fusire, Shane Maroodza and Prosper Padera having already been exposed to the Warriors set-up. The squad has an average age of around 20, underlining the developmental nature of Sanchez’s team.
One of the intriguing selections is 16-year-old Garthwaite, who is attached to Aston Villa’s youth set-up. The goalkeeper has spoken of his excitement at receiving the opportunity to represent Zimbabwe and help the country pursue qualification.
South Africa-based midfielder Junior Chigumbu is another player hoping to make an impression after earning his first call-up at this level. The 20-year-old plays for Hout Bay United and has welcomed the opportunity to test himself in international football.
Locally based youngsters have also been given an opportunity, with MWOS U19 forward Timmy Kushata and defender Keith Handirade earning selection after impressing in the Northern Region Soccer League and Munhumutapa Cup.
Kushata has scored nine league goals this season, while Handirade has contributed eight assists and a goal from defence.
However, preparations have not been entirely straightforward.
Sixteen players initially reported for camp as the foreign-based contingent continued to arrive, while the technical team has also had to contend with changes to the original squad.
Recent reports indicate that FC Hunters midfielder Tadiwanashe Huni and United States-based Noel Zimbeva are among those affected by eligibility concerns relating to the Olympic qualification age cut-off. Junior Meya of FC Hunters, TelOne’s Allan Chapinduka and El Shaddai Sadomba have subsequently been reported among the players training with the group.
There has been no widely reported confirmation of a major injury crisis in the Young Warriors camp ahead of the Mauritius match. The more prominent issue surrounding preparations has been squad availability and eligibility rather than a lengthy injury list. The final matchday squad will therefore be closely watched.
Sanchez has also had to balance his Under-23 responsibilities with his involvement in the senior Warriors technical set-up. He was with the senior team in Morocco before returning to concentrate on the Young Warriors, leaving him with limited time to work directly with the U23 players.
That lack of preparation time could make the opening exchanges particularly important.
The Young Warriors will need to establish control early while avoiding giving Mauritius encouragement ahead of the return leg. With the tie decided over two matches, Zimbabwe will be looking for a result that gives them a solid platform to take into the second encounter.
The National Sports Stadium will provide an additional backdrop to the occasion.
The venue has recently returned to the international football calendar following extensive renovations and CAF approval, with the Young Warriors’ match against Mauritius forming part of a busy run of international fixtures at the stadium.
For a generation largely unfamiliar to the wider football public, the match provides an opportunity to announce itself.
The stakes extend beyond Mauritius. Progress in the U23 qualifiers keeps alive Zimbabwe’s route towards the 2027 AFCON finals in Egypt and, through that competition, the country’s hopes of reaching the 2028 Olympic Games.
The Young Warriors will therefore enter the National Sports Stadium knowing that tomorrow’s assignment is not simply another youth international.
It is the beginning of a pathway.
