Malawi U-20 face Comoros today
Malawi Under-20 national football team hope to add Comoros to its list of casualties when they clash in a Cosafa Under-20 Championship Group C top-of-the-table clash in Mbabane, Eswatini this afternoon.
Floating on air following their 2-0 win over eight-time champions South Africa’s Amajita on Saturday, Malawi, who lead the four team group, head into the contest hoping to make it two out of two and be within touching distance of qualifying for the semi-finals.
They will be up against a side they have beaten twice in the last two editions. They beat the islanders 4-0 in 2019 and edged them 1-0 during the 2020 edition.
But they are aware that it will not be a stroll in the park as Comoros also kick-started their campaign with a 1-0 win over Namibia on Saturday and have beefed up their squad with France-based players.
Malawi coach Patrick ‘General’ Mabedi said in an interview yesterday that they do not have the luxury to underrate Comoros.
He said: “They have never beaten us, but this is football in which the tide can change. They have an improved side now and we need to tread carefully and not relax.
“We watched their game against Namibia, they are a good side with some players based in France, but that does not bother us.
“They attack mostly using the wings, but they also have some weak areas which we plan to capitalise on. So, we will analyse them and prepare accordingly.”
Malawi will bank their hopes on their Zambia-based captain Chifundo Mphasi, who was named man-of-the-match against South Africa.
He is tipped to partner Vincent Mkandawire upfront while Chikumbutso Salima, Lloyd Aaron, Frank Mahowa and Happy Mphepo will orchestrate play in midfield .
In defence, Mabedi is likely to maintain Chimwemwe Nkhoma, Chisomo Chawanda, Chrispine Mapemba and Kelvin Banda while Austin Chirambo, who had a grand game against Amajita, will guard the posts.
In the opening match, Mkandawire drew first blood in the 26th minute before Mphasi doubled the lead in the 68th minute.
In another group C match, South Africa face Namibia.
The top teams in each group plus the best-placed runner-up will qualify for the semis while the two finalists will sail through to the finals of the 2023 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
