The Malawi Under-23 National Football Team will regroup today in preparation for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) first round qualifier against Eswatini.
The team’s head coach Bob Mpinganjira has named a 24-member squad for the two-legged qualifier.
| Courtesy of Mighty Wanderers
The first leg will be played in Eswatini on September 28 before Malawi host the return match at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on October 6.
The winner of the tie will face Algeria in the second round, scheduled for November 9 and 17.
Egypt will host the final tournament next year, having seven slots available.
The tournament, which will feature eight teams, will also serve as Africa’s qualifier for the men’s football event at the 2028 Olympic Games.
Since Fifa and the International Olympic Committee reduced the men’s Olympic football tournament to 12 teams, Africa’s allocation has been cut from three places to two, with the finalists of the 2027 Under-23 Afcon qualifying for the 2028 Games.
Football Association of Malawi operations director Gomezgani Zakazaka said the association’s target is to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games.
“This means we need to qualify for the Under-23 Afcon tournament and also go all the way to the final to qualify for the 2028 Games,” he said.
Zakazaka said the men’s team should emulate what the Scorchers did by reaching the 2026 Women’s African Cup of Nations final and also qualifying for the 2027 Brazil Fifa Women’s World Cup.
“The Scorchers have proven that it is possible. That is what the other national teams should strive to achieve,” he said.
The squad is as follows: Goalkeepers: Precious Masamba, Innocent Kaiwambi, Julius Banda and Mayamiko Chisiwa; Defenders: Helmas Masinja, Happy Mphepo, Joseph Saiwa, Elias Muywanga, Edward Thengo, Feston Botomani, Alex Kambiilinya, Lameck George, Kelvin Gondwe; Midfielders: Lusali Jali, Matamando Matchipisa, Levison Mnyenyembe, Suthera Muyira, Godfrey Sibale, Godfrey Kiokwa; Forwards: Masambilo Kalua, Chifundo Makawa, Steve Nkhata, John Nchema and Lucky Mkandawire.
