Malawi, SA eye Zambia friendly

Malawi under-20 national football team and their opponents South Africa will both play friendly matches against Zambia before they clash in the first leg of the 2019 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) Under-20 qualifier on July 19.

Junior Flames coach Meke Mwase recommended to the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) that the team should have an international friendly match against Zambia on July 1.

Interestingly, his counterpart Thabo Senong also wants to play Zambia on July 7.

Malawi played a friendly against Zambia and lost 1-0 before the second round qualifier against Angola.

Mwase said: “We have planned to go into camp on June 24 [Sunday] and we believe that we would be in good shape ahead of our clash against South Africa if we play against either Zambia or Senegal in a tune-up game. We are just keeping our fingers crossed that FAM will accept our proposal.”

FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda yesterday confirmed about the proposal, but said the association will come up with a concrete stand later.

When asked if it was worth playing a friendly against a team their opponents will also face, Gunda said a decision has not yet been made.

“The plan we have indicates the said date [June 24] for camping and the securing of a friendly match or matches is on the table. Once all is confirmed, we should provide guidance soon enough.

“The focus is on thorough and good preparation for the team to give their best and raise their bar a step in their age bracket on the continent,” he said.

But Zambia Under-20 coach Charles Bwale has confirmed about the Malawi friendly.

Interestingly, Zambia, who are preparing for Under-20 Afcon qualifier against Burundi, will also play Malawi’s opponents South Africa in another friendly on July 7.

“These are important international friendly games. The boys need to be exposed to such friendlies unlike the local training games that we usually play,” Bwale was quoted by Lusaka Times as having said.

“It will be important to see some players who didn’t or saw little action in our last games. We want them to come into camp before these two friendly games.”

The Junior Flames reached the last round after overturning a 1-2 home loss to win 5-3 on aggregate over Angola in a two legged tie.

If they emerge triumphant against South Africa, Malawi will earn the Afcon Under-20 finals’ ticket for the first time in two decades as they last did it in 1999 in Kumasi, Ghana.