The Malawi Under-20 Men’s National Football Team will be out to seal their Cosafa Under-20 Championship semi-final qualification with a game in hand as they face hosts Namibia in Windhoek this afternoon.
On the other hand, the women’s side is hoping to boost qualification chances against Botswana.
The tournaments are part of the 11th edition of the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Games.
The Malawi men’s Under-20 side has a spring in its step going into this afternoon’s showdown, having won their Group A opener against Zimbabwe’s Young Warriors 2-1 on Friday.
They top the four-team group as they tie on three points with Angola, who beat the hosts 1-0 in their first game.
A win today will see Malawi breaking their 14-year last-four qualification jinx with a game to spare.
But in an interview yesterday, coach Millias Pofera Jegwe said he expects a tough encounter as the hosts have nothing to lose.
He said: “Being the hosts, they wouldn’t want to bow out at this stage, so we expect them to come hard on us, having lost their opening match.
“They will also be backed by home support. But we aren’t reading much into that. We are focused on how best to approach the game.”
On how he analysed the Namibians having watched them taking on Angola, Jegwe described them as a good side.
He said: “They are dangerous in building up attacks, especially through the wings and they have pacy forwards.
“So, we will need to close them down in the flanks from where they build their attacks and catch them on counter-attacks.”
Jegwe also said they have drummed into his charges not to underrate the hosts.
Germany-bound starlet Mwisho Mhango, who scored a brace against Zimbabwe and was named man-of–the-match, vowed to fight their lungs out.
He said: “It is a must-win match for us and we know it won’t be easy. We will fight all the way.
“We watched them [Namibia] yesterday [Friday], they are a good side and we need to be cautious.”
The other potential match winners for Malawi include midfielder Madalitso Safuli and captain Mischeck Billiat.
Malawi players were in high spirits after their training session yesterday as they cracked jokes while basking in the sun.
Namibia coach Jerimi Zimmer was quoted by cosafa.com after Friday’s game as saying they will fight to revive their semi-final qualification chances.
He said: “Malawi are a good side and we know it won’t be easy, but we will prepare well for them.
“We just need to polish up some areas and take the game to them.”
In the group’s other match, Angola will face Zimbabwe.
Malawi’s last group match will be against Angola on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Malawi Under-20 girls’ team coach Linda Kasenda said she is hopeful her charges will grind out a result that will take them to the semis this afternoon.
“In our first match, we created so many chances which we failed to convert. We have been working on that, especially the players’ composure in front of goal,” she said.
The girls’ side is jointly second with a point following a goalless draw against the hosts in their opener on Friday
Botswana tops the group with three points following their 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe.
Malawi’s last group match will be against Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
