By McGeorge Mbare
Zimbabwe 4-1Mauritius (6-1.agg)
ZIMBABWE’s Under-23 men’s national team, the Young Warriors, secured an emphatic 4-1 victory over Mauritius on Tuesday in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Having won the first leg 2-0 at the National Sports Stadium, the Young Warriors completed a 6-1 aggregate victory to book their place in the next round of the Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations qualifiers, where they will face West African powerhouse Mali.
The Young Warriors are showing determination and ambition as they attempt to secure a place at the continental finals in Egypt in 2027.
Young Warriors dominated the Young Dodos from the beginning to the end, controlling proceedings and asserting their authority throughout the match.
At halftime, the scoreline stood at 4-1 in favour of the Young Warriors.
By full-time, Zimbabwe had completed a convincing 6-1 aggregate victory to progress to the next round.
Young Warriors forward Elisha Pfupa, who plays for Portsmouth Academy in England, was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick.
The 17-year-old has displayed remarkable bravery and composure, announcing himself on the international stage at crucial moments. Pfupa’s scoring ability could take him far beyond the Young Warriors if he continues on his current trajectory.
The double over Mauritius also saw coach Marc Sánchez secure back to back victories, cementing a 100% winning record from his first two assignments with the Young Warriors.
Zimbabwe are returning to the Under-23 AFCON qualification pathway after missing the 2023 qualifiers, a setback that also saw them miss out on the race for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.