Warriors face Mauritius test
The Warriors will face Mauritius in the first round of the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) to be held in South Africa.
The Warriors were given a bye when the draw was conducted in September this year on account of their good performances in the previous editions of the tournament.
Mauritius confirmed themselves as the Warriors’ opponents at the weekend, when they beat fellow Indian Ocean rivals Comoros Islands in a two-legged preliminary round tie.
Despite settling for a 0-0 draw away on Saturday, Mauritius qualified on a 2-0 victory from the first leg played two weeks ago at home.
The first round matches of the qualifiers are scheduled to start during the weekend of June 21-23 next year, two weeks after Zimbabwe host Egypt in their return leg of the World Cup qualifiers.
The Chan tournament is reserved for players plying their trade in local leagues. The Warriors will open their campaign away in Mauritius and then return home to host the islanders for the second leg on 28 July.
If Zimbabwe progress from the first round, they will meet either Botswana or Zambia in the second round, with the winners going to the finals in South Africa.
Southern African neighbours Mozambique also pulled through to the first round on a 6-1 aggregate victory over minnows Seychelles. South Africa will host the CHAN 2014.
