By McGeorge Mbare
ZIMBABWE’s Young Warriors face their toughest assignment against Mali as they continue their quest in the U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
The match is scheduled for Wednesday, 11 November 2026.
The Young Warriors head into the encounter full of confidence after an impressive 6-1 aggregate victory over Mauritius in the opening round.
The West African giants, Mali, present a considerably tougher challenge to the Young Warriors of Zimbabwe.
Prior to their clash against the West African giants, the absence of Zimbabwe’s U23 head coach, Marc Sánchez, has become a talking point ahead of the crucial encounter.
Sánchez is away with the senior national team for their 2027 AFCON qualifier against Equatorial Guinea in Cameroon.
His assistant, Wilson Mutekede will guide the Young Warriors against Mali.
In an interview with Ziyah News Network, football enthusiast Biggie Mabidi said it was sad to have a coach who was not taking part in his main assignment but instead travelling to a team where he is second in command.
“Head coach leaving the U23 to the senior team… Is that a serious thing? I mean, does he take our U23 assignment seriously?
You can’t have a coach who doesn’t see the importance of his role in his main team by leaving his team. It’s frustrating, and it gives us slim chances of winning. Anyway, we just wish they can go and play well,” Mabidi said.
Mabidi’s concerns come at a time when Zimbabwe need stability and strong technical leadership against a formidable Malian side.
Former Warriors and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Willard Katsande has backed the Young Warriors to defeat the West African giants.
“The boys will surely do it,” Katsande said.
The tie is part of the qualification pathway to the 2027 Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.
The two best placed teams at the tournament will qualify for the men’s football competition at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Historically, Mali’s U23 men’s football team has qualified for the Olympic Games twice, participating in Athens 2004 and Paris 2024.