By Zim Sport Live Writer
Rising star Elisha Pfupa scored a first-half hat-trick as Zimbabwe Under-23 cruised into the next round of the CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a 4-1 victory over Mauritius on Tuesday.
The Portsmouth Academy forward struck three times in the opening 41 minutes before David Chigwada added a fourth just before half-time as the Young Warriors completed a 6-1 aggregate victory in their preliminary-round tie.
Pfupa opened the scoring in the 15th minute and struck again three minutes later to put Zimbabwe firmly in control.
He completed his hat-trick in the 41st minute, giving the Young Warriors a commanding 4-1 lead on the night.
Chigwada, who was on target in the first leg, then added to Mauritius’ misery by scoring Zimbabwe’s fourth in the 44th minute.
The emphatic victory followed Zimbabwe’s 2-0 first-leg win at the National Sports Stadium last week, when Chigwada and Nisbert Muzenda were on target.
The Young Warriors comfortably negotiated the return leg to seal their progress and keep their campaign for qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games on course.
The 2027 Under-23 Afcon tournament serves as the qualification route for the Olympics.
Zimbabwe will now face Mali in the next round, with the tie presenting a tougher test for Marc Sanchez’s side as they continue their bid to reach the continental tournament.
Pfupa’s hat-trick also provides another boost for Sanchez after the Young Warriors began the campaign with a 2-0 win over Mauritius in Harare.
Zimbabwe 4-1 Mauritius (6-1 agg)
Scorers: Elisha Pfupa 15′, 18′, 41′, David Chigwada 44′
