Zimbabwe face Mauritius in second round of 2027 U-23 AFCON qualifiers

Zimbabwe’s Young Warriors will play Mauritius in the second round of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, beginning a two-leg contest in November.

The opening match is scheduled for November 9, with the return fixture set for November 17. Zimbabwe must advance from the tie to remain in contention for a place at the 2027 continental tournament.

Egypt will host the 2027 U-23 AFCON after CAF confirmed the country as the tournament venue on August 10. The dates and host cities for the finals have not yet been announced.

A successful campaign against Mauritius would send Zimbabwe into the following qualifying round, where Mali would provide the opposition. That potential meeting would represent a tougher test on the route to the finals.

The competition also carries Olympic importance. The U-23 AFCON will determine the African pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, United States, giving Zimbabwe an additional objective beyond reaching the tournament in Egypt.

Zimbabwe therefore begin their qualification campaign with Mauritius standing between them and the next stage. The two November fixtures will decide whether the Young Warriors continue towards the 2027 finals and a possible Olympic qualification challenge.