Mauritius and Zimbabwe will begin their Group A campaign in the 24th edition of the COSAFA Cup with a clash at Toyota Stadium on Wednesday.
While Les Dodos are eyeing a strong start in their quest to reach the knockout stage for only the third time in history, the Warriors arrive as seasoned contenders with a rich tradition in the tournament.
Match preview
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After opting out of the previous edition, Mauritius return to the COSAFA Cup with their eyes set on a first knockout stage appearance in two decades, though the path ahead is anything but straightforward.
Drawn into one of only two four-team groups in this year's expanded 14-nation tournament, Guillaume Moullec's men enter as the lowest-ranked side in their bracket – currently placed 178th in the world – and must somehow navigate a group that includes Mozambique and hosts South Africa.
Their curtain-raiser brings a familiar challenge in Zimbabwe, a team Les Dodos have faced six times across all competitions and friendlies without a single victory, losing five of those meetings and conceding seven goals across the most recent two.
Mauritius will look to turn the page, but recent form paints a grim picture, with the team winless in their last five outings, managing just two draws in that run.
In four of those five games, they failed to find the back of the net - Les Dodos's only goals coming in a 3-3 draw away to Eswatini last time out, a result that leaves them fifth in Group D of the World Cup preliminaries.
Zimbabwe's own qualifying campaign has offered little to smile about either, with the Warriors rooted to the bottom of their group on four points after six matches.
Their most recent outing saw them snatch a late equaliser away to Nigeria in a 1-1 draw, but it extended the Warriors's winless run to six matches, managing just three draws over that period.
With Zimbabwe's chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup all but gone and their absence from the African Nations Championship confirmed, the COSAFA Cup represents a rare opportunity for redemption, and a return to familiar territory for one of the region's most decorated sides.
Winners of the competition on six occasions, the Warriors began last year's campaign with back-to-back wins over Comoros and Zambia, only to fall short at the final hurdle following a loss to Kenya that dashed their hopes of progression.
For this year's tournament, the reins have been temporarily handed over to Zimbabwe Under-20 coach Simon Marange, who will guide a youthful side in Bloemfontein while head coach Michael Nees leads the senior team in friendlies against Burkina Faso and Niger in Morocco.
Team News
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Mauritius have named a 23-man squad comprising three goalkeepers, seven defenders, nine midfielders and four forwards, with West Ham United Academy's Gabriel Caliste earning his third senior call-up as one of the squad's most promising talents.
Lindsay Rose and Wilson Mootoo are expected to form the central defensive partnership, while Kevin Jean-Louis could be trusted to start between the posts.
Zimbabwe's interim boss Marange announced his squad on Wednesday, opting for a blend of youthful exuberance and seasoned campaigners drawn from both domestic and overseas bases.
Former Wales Under-19 international Menzi Mazwi, currently at Birmingham City, headlines the foreign contingent and will be joined by fellow UK-based talents Tanaka Cherera of Bury FC, Kennedy Mupomba from Chelmsford FC and Kurainashe Musanhi of Crystal Palace, all of whom featured in the COSAFA Under-20 Championship last year.
Veteran goalkeeper Martin Mapisa is part of the home based, while Highlanders centre-back Andrew Mbeba has been handed the armband after gaining invaluable international experience during Zimbabwe's World Cup qualifying campaign.
Mauritius possible starting lineup:
Jean-Louis; Francois, Rose, Mootoo, Collard; Colin, Langue, Caliste; Brasse, Ferre, Aristide
Zimbabwe possible starting lineup:
Mapisa; Chapinduka, Mbeba, Kaseke, Mashonganyika; Mazwi, Muzenda, Chigara; Munemo, Cherera, Meke
We say: Mauritius 0-1 Zimbabwe
With both teams searching for respite amid disappointing World Cup qualification campaigns, this fixture is delicately poised, but Zimbabwe's pedigree in the competition and unblemished head-to-head record gives them the edge to nick a narrow win in the group opener.
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Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
