THE national Under-20 football team would be hoping to celebrate its return to the international scene with a win over Botswana when the two teams face off in the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations first leg match at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow.
BY SPORTS REPORTER
The Young Warriors have been inactive since 2012 when the team was handed a ban by Caf after Zifa failed to send the squad to Angola to fulfil an international fixture.
But the ban has since been lifted, paving way for the team to compete in these qualifiers, which will culminate in the finals to be hosted by Zambia next year.
The Jairos Tapera-coached side assembled in Bulawayo last week with a 25-man squad in camp, which was set to be trimmed to 18 yesterday.
Tapera, although bemoaning lack of enough preparatory time for a team that has been in the wilderness for a long time, still fancies a good chance to get a positive result ahead of a second leg encounter at the Lobatse Sports Complex in Gaborone on Friday, April 22.
As preparations for the match, the Young Warriors played Division One side Bantu Rovers, drawing 1-1.
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Zimbabwe are part of the 20 teams that will be involved in the opening round, with eyes on places in the second round and eventually the final lap, where seven teams will emerge for the final tournament in Lusaka.
Botswana were expected in the country by road yesterday, headed by Phillimon Makhwengwe and assisted by Tshepo Mphukuthi and Barobi Nwako.
The match will be handled by South African referee Eketsang Setloboko who will be assisted by compatriots Lindikhaya Bolo and Johannes Sello.
Young Warriors Squad Mathias Chodeya (Bantu Rovers), Munyaradzi Chidambwe (Bantu Rovers), Patrick Musaka, Issa Sadiki (FC Platinum), Victor Moyo (Caps United), Bukhosi Sibanda (Bantu Rovers), Bukhosi Ncube (Highlanders), Leslie Lunga (Bantu Rovers), Prince Phiri (How Mine), Romario Matoba (Caps United), Thulani Nxumalo (Chicken Inn), Simbarashe Dinyero (Hartley Academy), Blessing Nyamuziwa (Bantu Rovers), Trevor Zidoro (Border Strikers), Blessing Sibanda (Tsolotsho FC), Gladman Bharibhari (Bantu Rovers), Kudzanai Nyakasaka (Dynamos), Jerry Chipangura (Harare City), Kelvin Shangiwa (Harare City), Ronald Ruzvidzo (Harare City), Peace Makaha (Dynamos), Anelka Chivandire (Mutare City), Issa Tinotenda Ali (Caps United), Thembalethu Mthunzi (Highlanders), Thomas Kadyaridzire (Chicken Inn)
