The roaring sights and sounds were a wonder to behold as Malawi Under-20 Men’s National Football Team celebrated their Cosafa Under-20 Championship final for the first time in 22 years.
A 2-1 victory at University of Namibia Stadium in Windhoek saw Malawi reach the promised land at the expense of Zambia.
There were scenes so lovely as Malawi players turned the pitch into a theatre of celebrations, hoisting their coach Millias Pofera Jegwe high and then going on to celebrate with members of Team Malawi and some Namibia-based Malawians.
Malawi face holders South Africa in the final tomorrow. Amajita beat Angola 2-0 in the other semi-final earlier on.
It took only two minutes for Malawi to draw first blood through Germany-bound Mwisho Mhango.
A move of utter beauty saw midfielder Madalitso Safuli, who was named player-of-the-match, setting up Mhango to release a powerful low shot that gave the Zambian goalkeeper not a prayer.
From then on, Malawi were in control, passing the ball around the sunlit pitch with assurance.
There was even a time when they strung 15 passes as Zambia danced to their tune.
Malawi could have been three up in under half hour, in which they created a plethora of chances, but sadly failed to make them count.
Captain Misheck Billiat missed with only the Zambian ‘keeper at his mercy and moments later, Maxwell Sakanamba also missed from close range.
They rued those missed chances when Zambia equalised from a set-piece through Billy Daka in the 39th minute.
But Malawi came into the second-half with renewed purpose and it came as no surprise when Mhango struck the winner in the 69th minute with a fabulous curler from a free kick to take his tally to five goals.
As time ticked on, the Malawi bench oozed anxiety and Pofera was seen running up and down the touchline, urging his charges to give out something extra and they held on to the significant victory.
A visibly emotional Jegwe could not hide his excitement.
He said: “We didn’t approach the game the way we wanted. The plan was to kill the game in the early stages, but it didn’t work.
“We didn’t play well, but after the half time pep talk, the boys upped the tempo and got it right.
“It’s time for celebrations before we switch focus to the final.”
Zambia face Angola in the battle for bronze this afternoon.
