Two Malawi Under-17 Girls National Football Team players striker Faluna Umali and defender Emily Samuel have been named in the Best XI of the just-concluded Cosafa Under-17 Girls Championship in Windhoek, Namibia.
According to the list released by Cosafa yesterday, champions Zambia dominate with five players. Malawi and Zimbabwe follow with two apiece. The squad also has a South African and a Mozambican.
Umali and Samuel played a pivotal role as Malawi won silver at the competition following a 3-0 loss in the final to defending champions Zambia on Saturday.
Samuel. | Courtesy of FAM
She scored four goals during the tourney, including a hat-trick in Malawi’s 6-0 demolition of Comoros in their last group match and won the Player of the Match Award twice.
For Samuel, she marshalled Malawi’s defence with zeal and confidence, thwarting a number of opposition attacks.
At the tournament, the Chisomo Nkhoma-coached Malawi side made history after qualifying for the final for the first time with a 1-0 semi-final triumph over Mozambique.
They began their campaign with a 3-0 win over hosts Namibia in a Group A opener before thrashing Comoros 6-0.
The tournament comprised nine teams namely, Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Comoros, Mauritius and Botswana.
