Six Malawi Under-17 National Football Team players, who were ineligible to play at the 2025 Cosafa Under-17 tourney in Zimbabwe due to lack of passports, finally got their travel documents yesterday.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka in an interview confirmed that the six players’ passports were finally out.
He said: “We took the players to Zimbabwe because we were assured that their passports would be issued before the first march.
“Unfortunately, they were not out at the time the team was playing Madagascar. But eventually, all the six players’ passports are now out. This means all the 21 players the coach took to the tournament are eligible to play.”
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services has for a long time now been experiencing challenges in issuing passports.
Zakazaka thanked the department for ensuring that the passports were issued.
He said: “They have been very understanding whenever we need their assistance. We are really grateful for this.”
The development is a boost for head coach Enos Chatama as he faces defending champions Zambia this afternoon.
The tactician, who on Friday was forced to play with two goalkeepers and two infield substitutes in the opening match against Madagascar, said he was relieved to have a full squad.
Said Chatama: “We played under a very difficult circumstance; we had only 14 players, two substitutions plus the goalkeeper which affected our tactical adjustments in the game, a lot of players played out of positions which was very difficult for the team.”
Despite the setback, Malawi still managed a 3-1 victory over the islanders.
Cosafa, Fifa and Confederation of African Football (CAF) tournaments regulations are explicit on passports as the sole acceptable form of identification.
Players that fail to present passports at the beginning of the tournament are disqualified, according to 2025 Cosafa Under-17 Championship Article 18 of the rules and regulations.
The regulations state in part: “All players shall present to the general coordinator at the team arrival meeting, which will be convened before the start of the tournament, their passport issued by the competent authorities of the country they represent. The passport must be current and may not have expired.
“A player, who does not present an unexpired passport, will be disqualified from playing in the tournament. No team shall be allowed to field any player if, before the start of the tournament, he does not present his unexpired valid passport for verification and/or the official accreditation issued by the Cosafa organising committee.”
After today’s match against Zambia, Malawi will wrap up the group stages against South Africa who top the group on goal difference after whipping Zambia 4-0 while the Junior Flames remain second in the group.
The tournament’s final will be played on September 20 with the champions earning qualification to the 2026 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations final.
In the last edition, Malawi finished bottom of their pool without winning a game after 1-1 draws against Mozambique and Angola before a 3-2 defeat to Lesotho.
