“Zambia have had their time in the sun, it’s now our turn.”
This is the bold statement from Malawi Under-20 National Football Team coach Millias Pofera Jegwe in a pre-match interview ahead of this afternoon’s Cosafa Under-20 Championship semi-final at University of Namibia Stadium in Windhoek, Namibia.
Malawi will be out to convert fantasy into reality as they seek to end their 22-year wait for final qualification against the 12-time champions.
The last time Malawi winged into the final of the regional showpiece was in 2003.
Jegwe declared that his charges will come out triumphant today.
He said: “It’s going to be tough, I watched them taking on Botswana in their last [Group B] match yesterday [Wednesday].
“They are a good side, especially in defence, koma atichinya kokwanira a Zambia. Ino ndi nthawi yathu [but Zambia have beaten us enough, it’s now our turn].
“We are not moved, we have a good strategy for them and I have faith and confidence in my boys that they will deliver.”
Attacker Mwisho Mvula, midfielder Madalitso Safuli and Lameck Mithi are tipped to lead Malawi in search of success.
On the other hand, Zambia have brought their Under-17 team to the tournament as part of their preparations for the Under-17 Fifa World Cup scheduled for November this year.
Malawi captain Mischeck Billiat said they are prepared to sweat blood for the cause of their motherland.
“We will give it our all. Our target is to reach the final and take it up from there. We are very determined,” he said.
The Malawi players appeared calm and relaxed as they went through their final paces yesterday afternoon.
Zambia assistant coach Aaron Kawangu also said they expect a tough match.
He was quoted by cosafa.com as having said: “Malawi has done well in this tournament and obviously, it won’t be easy.
“We are working on improving in attack. Of course, we brought in our under-17 side as part of our development programme and also to prepare for the Under-17 World Cup.”
Ironically, all the semi-finalists finished their group stage assignments with seven points apiece.
They won two games and drew once each and did not lose.
They were separated by goal aggregate.
Malawi finished top of Group A while Zambia were runners-up in Group B.
On Tuesday Malawi broke the semi-final jinx after qualifying for the last-four stage for the first time in 14 years after finishing on top of four-team Group A with seven points.
In their last meeting in December last year, Malawi lost to Zambia 2-0 in group stages. They also settled for goalless draws in in two-legged U-20 Afcon qualifiers last August.
