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Raymond Jaravaza, Sports Correspondent
THE Young Warriors will host African giants Cameroon in the first leg of the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on May 22 at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.

The return leg will be played in the West African country two weeks later.

Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela said they would soon make an announcement as to when the boys will go into camp to prepare for the tie.

Zimbabwe progressed to the next round of qualifiers after overcoming Botswana 2-1 on aggregate last month.

The Young Warriors first suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Botswana in the first leg at Barbourfields Stadium on April 3 before overhauling the deficit with a 2-0 win away in Lobatse to book a date with Cameroon.

The 20th edition of the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Zambia in April 2017.

Young Warriors’ coach Jairos Tapera has in the past bemoaned inadequate preparations as a possible stumbling block to the success of the Under-20 team as his charges assembled and trained in Bulawayo for only three days prior to their home fixture against Botswana.

After the defeat at Barbourfields Stadium, Tapera requested Zifa to allow the team not to break camp for the return fixture in Lobatse, but the request was turned down, with the football governing body citing lack of funds.

The Young Warriors were again faced with inadequate preparations for the return match, but they overcame them to beat their neighbours.