Zambia face Madagascar today in the two teams opening Group B match at the 2017 COSAFA Under-17 Cup in Mauritius.

However, Zambia Under-17 return to the tournament with a dark cloud hanging over them.

Zambia return to the COSAFA U17 Cup exactly a year after they were expelled from the 2016 edition also hosted by Mauritius.

This is after they were found guilty of fielding overage players during the preliminary group stage that saw them sail through to the semifinals with a 100 percent record.

But it was not to be and Zambia were banished and later fined and handed a two-year suspension including that to former coach Oswald Mutapa.

Zambia Under-17 coach Mumamba Numba said they were going to Mauritius to make the headlines for all the right reasons.

“I think this time around we were very careful and that is why we insisted that everyone undergoes MRI tests so that what happened last time, does not arise again this time,” Numba said.

“But the boys have the talent, they have what it takes to make them better players. From what we have seen, I believe they are capable of doing better.”

Meanwhile, Zambia and Madagascar are in Group B together with South Africa and Mozambique.

Zambia will after their opening Group B match on Friday face South Africa on July 23 before finishing against Mozambique on July 25.