Harare – September 12, 2025 — The COSAFA Under-17 boys’ football championship kicked off yesterday in Harare and Norton, setting the stage for a week of regional battles, but it was a difficult opening day for hosts Zimbabwe who fell 1-0 to Mozambique in their first group encounter.
The Young Warriors came into the qualifiers under pressure to impress home fans and secure a place at the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. However, the team looked nervous in front of goal, missing several clear chances while Mozambique capitalised on one opportunity to secure all three points. The result immediately puts Zimbabwe on the back foot in Group A, forcing them to chase victories in their remaining matches to stay in contention.
Supporters at the Ngoni Stadium in Norton had turned out in numbers to back the hosts, but were left frustrated as the Young Warriors failed to convert possession into goals. The defeat highlighted long-standing issues with finishing and defensive lapses that continue to haunt Zimbabwe’s youth sides.
While Zimbabwe struggled, Comoros made a statement in the day’s other fixture, sweeping aside Eswatini with an emphatic 3-0 win. The result signalled the island nation’s growing strength in youth football and placed them among the early favourites in the qualifiers.
The tournament, which runs from September 11 to 20, will see regional teams battling not only for the COSAFA trophy but also for qualification spots to the continental finals. For Zimbabwe, the focus now turns to regrouping quickly, as their next fixtures will be decisive in determining whether they can recover from the disappointing start and keep their AFCON hopes alive.
