Malawi beach soccer team stuns hosts South Africa
Malawi Beach Soccer National Team made a perfect start at the Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship yesterday when they stunned hosts South Africa 4-2 in a Group A match in Durban.
In the match monitored live on Fifa+, coach Willy Kumilambe pulled no punches as he started with his best arsenal from the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations ( Afcon) Beach Soccer Championship where the team finished sixth.
He had Justine Bonongwe in goals, Martin Billiat in defence, Sandram Saddie Ussi and Dala Simba in midfield while player-of-the-match Isaac Kajamu played upfront.
Eddie Jamu, Arnold Lasten, Blessings Likupe, Frank Mwenelupembe and Aubrey Nkhumbula were on the bench.
Simba scored the opener for Malawi in the 10th minute, but the lead was shortlived as South Africa pulled level through Phiwokuhle Gumede in the 14th minute soon after the break.
An own goal from Ussi in the 15th minute put the hosts in the lead as Malawi trailed 2-1.
But Malawi fought back and pulled level through captain Kajamu a minute later.
The second period ended with the two sides tied two-all.
Malawi finished off the hosts in the last period with two quick goals from Kajamu in the 26th minute and Ussi two minutes later.
In a post-match interview, Kumilambe said he was satisfied with the victory despite a shaky start in the first period.
He said: “What is important right now is that we have won and collected full points.
“Now we have to win our next game against Saudi Arabia tomorrow [today] as well.”
The other group’s members Saudi Arabia and Seychelles were in action at press time at 4pm yesterday.
With the group winners and runners-up set to qualify for the semis, a win in the second fixture will guarantee Malawi a place in the last flour with the last game against Seychelles on March 20 to spare.
In a Group B battle, Angola defeated guests Tanzania 3-2 while Morocco and Mozambique clashed in the last fixture of the opening day.
