The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has unveiled a 23-man squad for the men’s under-20 team, set to compete in the 2024 COSAFA Cup tournament in Mozambique. The tournament will take place in Maputo from September 26 to October 5. This marks Zimbabwe’s return to the regional tournament after missing the last two editions due to a FIFA ban, which was lifted in July last year. Zimbabwe finds itself in Group A alongside Botswana, Eswatini, and hosts Mozambique. The top two finalists from this tournament will earn a place in the upcoming AFCON Under-20 tournament scheduled for next year.
Football analyst Tom Nyathi praised ZIFA’s scouting approach, noting the inclusivity of players from diverse regions. “It has been a while since we saw a squad of young Warriors with a net cast wider. Previously, we mainly saw players from Harare and Bulawayo, but I’m happy to see talent from Mutare, Hwange, and other areas,” he said. Nyathi emphasized the importance of maintaining this approach for the future of Zimbabwean football.
This is the second tournament for the Young Warriors this year, having also competed in the Four Nations tournament held in Malawi in March. The squad is heavily represented by players from Ngezi Platinum Stars, which boasts four players: Tanaka Munemo, Nesbert Muzenda, Blessed Mashonganyika, and Tatenda Chikowero.
### Young Warriors COSAFA Cup Squad
**Goalkeepers:**
– Joseph Kaunda (Manica Diamonds)
– Michael Kubvedzi (ZPC Kariba)
– Tatenda Chikowero (Ngezi Platinum)
**Defenders:**
– Allan Karakadzai (Simba Bhora)
– Alla Chapinduka (TelOne FC)
– Hebert Dick Jr (Arenel Movers)
– Blessed Mashonganyika (Ngezi Platinum)
– Kurainashe Musanhi (Crystal Palace)
– Mvelo Khoza (Highlanders)
**Midfielders:**
– Kennedy Mupomba (Chelmsford City FC)
– Alvin Antonio (Green Fuel)
– Denzel Mapuwa (Green Fuel)
– Prince Ndlovu (Highlanders)
– Kingsley Mureremba (Caps United)
– Morris Musamba (Bikita Minerals)
– Enock Moyo (Bikita Minerals)
– Tanaka Munemo (Ngezi Platinum)
– Nesbert Muzenda (Ngezi Platinum)
– Sean Mzinde (Harare City)
– Prince Magondo (Black Rhinos)
– Mavel Mbedzi (Dynamos)
– Craig Ndlovu (Chicken Inn)
– Mafios Chiweta (Ajax Hotspurs)
– Munashe Munenzva
**Forwards:**
– Nokutenda Mangezi (Supersport United)
– Nigel Banda (Highlanders)
– Tanaka Cherera (Bury FC)
– Messi Gushero (Dulibadzimu FC)
As the Young Warriors prepare for the COSAFA Cup, hopes are high for a strong performance that could pave the way for future successes in African youth football.
In other news – Toyota Hiace bound for Harare crashes into tree, injuring 11
A Harare-bound Toyota Hiace reportedly lost its brakes and crashed into a tree at the 52-kilometer peg along the Mazowe-Centenary road yesterday, resulting in eleven injuries, one of which was serious.
The driver, 33-year-old Charlse Nyamharadzi, failed to negotiate a curve after the vehicle’s brakes failed. Emergency responders quickly arrived on the scene, with a seriously injured passenger being airlifted by an ambulance helicopter from Mvurwi Hospital to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for urgent medical treatment. Read More
