The Malawi Under-23 National Football Team yesterday drew 1-1 against hosts Eswatini in the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), but the result fell short of taking the team to the next round.
Malawi lost 2-1 on aggregate after losing 0-1 during team to the first leg at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe last week.
Just like in their first-leg, the Malawi side dominated play in the second-leg at Somhlolo National Stadium but was guilty of conceding a late goal.
In a post-match interview, Malawi Under-23 National Football Team head coach Bob Mpinganjira said: “It was a good game from the beginning as we created a lot of chances but could not score. We conceded an avoidable goal as we were carried away with our dominance.
“We forgot to look at our back and they caught us on the counterattack. We equalised but that was too late.”
Yesterday, in the match monitored on Football Association of Malawi (FAM) Facebook page, Eswatini scored against the run of play in the 76th minute through Njogo Siphelele Mazibuko before John Mchema restored parity for Malawi in the 90th minute.
The equaliser rejuvinated the Malawi side to push for a winning goal but it was too little, too late as Eswatini banked on their 1-0 away first leg win to progress to the next round of qualification where they will face Algeria.
For the better part of the match on the soggy pitch, the game appeared a one-sided affair with Malawi forcing Eswatini to a rear-guard action but struggling to find the back of the net.
FAM posted on Facebook after an hour of action: “[It is] one-sided affair so far as Malawi push for a goal. The first quarter hour of this half has seen the Junior Flames playing in the enemy territory, but they are yet to get a breakthrough.”
The page reported that the water logged pitch slowed the game down as both sides struggled to pass the ball around.
While Malawi struggled to penetrate into opposition territory, Eswatini resorted to long balls on the wet pitch.
Attacker Mwisho Mhango nearly put Malawi ahead in the 60th minute through a free-kick but his effort bounced off the post.
A total of 42 nations are competing for seven places, alongside hosts Egypt, at the eight-team TotalEnergies CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations 2027.
The continental finals will also serve as Africa’s pathway to the men’s football tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
