Qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted in Cameroon officially gets underway this weekend.

Forty-eight nations drawn in 12 groups of four will contest the group stages. Group winners along with the three best-finishing runners-up will advance to the finals.

Zimbabwe Senior National team and Liberia will kick-off their Group G campaigns in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they meet in Harare on Sunday. The match is set for the National Sports Stadium at 1500hrs (Zim time)

Zimbabwe have appeared at three AFCONs, with Gabon 2017 the last time that they participated in the finals of the continental showpiece.

The Warriors, led by caretaker coach Norman Mapeza, start as favourites in the match but will have it tough to top Group G and qualify for the 2019 finals in Cameroon with DR Congo and Congo also in the group.

Liberia have appeared at two AFCON tournaments (1996 and 2002). The Lone Star, who have Debbah as their coach, will have to search deeper as they will be missing two of their top players due to injury (Mamelodi Sundowns’s striker anthony Laffor and Morocco based ).

Zimbabwe and Liberia have met in just two official international matches according to FIFA statistics and it’s good news for the Warriors, who have claimed one win and one draw.

The teams met during the qualifiers of the 2012 AFCON tournament with the Warriors recording a 3 nil win at home and drawing 1 all in the reverse encounter. A repeat result would be considered a success for Mapeza’s side.

The other Group G match this weekend sees DR Congo host Congo in Lubumbashi this Saturday evening.