Six COSAFA sides will battle it out in the first round of the qualifiers for the men’s Under-23 football tournament at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

South Africa and Zimbabwe have been handed byes into the second round, and will wait their prospective opponents when the qualifiers get under way in early April.

Malawi will tackle Mozambique in their two-legged tie, with East African side Kenya waiting in the next round.

Angola and Zambia will do battle in what is a potentially titanic tie, and it will not et any easier in the second round with Zimbabwe next up for the victor.

Botswana and Namibia complete the list of first round participants from the COSAFA region and whoever advances from that tie will play South Africa.

South Africa qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.