South Africa’s Amajita yesterday suffocated life out of Malawi Under-20 National Football Team with a 3-0 win to deny them their first-ever Under-20 Cosafa Championship title at University of Namibia Stadium in Windhoek.
The paralysis, the shock and disappointment were written all over Malawi players’ faces after the final whistle and they trudged off the pitch a well beaten side.
The touching moment was when Malawi’s playmaker Mwisho Mhango broke down after missing a penalty he took rather casually in the last minute of added time.
He was in tears as his teammates tried to console him.
The solace was that he still bagged the golden boot with five goals.
In a first half that failed to stir the passions, South Africa took the lead barely four minutes into the match through Njabulo Nzimela from an Emile Witbool setpiece.
Malawi dominated possession in this half, but the currency of football is about scoring goals and they couldn’t make use of their dominance.
After the recess, South Africa engaged an extra gear and doubled the lead through Simphiwe Mlondo in the 66th minute.
The beauty of it lay in the execution. He backheeled a perfectly weighed pass from Witbool.
Nine minutes later, Amajita made it 3-0 through Omphemetse Sekgotho to put the game beyond Malawi’s reach.
From then on, South Africa teased and taunted their opponents with showmanship football as they performed step overs from their traditional shibobo style that had their fans on cloud nine.
Malawi had a chance to claim a consolation goal when they were awarded a penalty for a foul and up stepped Mhango only for his casual kick to be easily kept out by South Africa’s goalminder.
It was game over and tough luck for Malawi, who were making their second appearance in the final after 22 years.
On the other hand, it was a ninth title and they successfully defended it, having won it last year.
Malawi coach Millias Pofera Jegwe hailed his charges for their fighting spirit despite the loss.
He said: “Our target was to win the cup and it is painful to lose the final in this manner.
“The boys weren’t at their best today probably due to pressure.
“In the first half we dominated possession, but when we conceded the second goal, the boys’ confidence run out.”
