The Malawi Under-17 Boys’ National Football Team is eyeing an impressive start to their Cosafa Under-17 Championship campaign when they face Mozambique in a Group A opener at the UJ Soweto Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.
At stake are also two slots for the 2026 Ivory Coast Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations which will be filled by the finalists.
Coach Enos Chatama yesterday said they that they do not know much about their opponents.expect a tough match considering
Although the new-look squad has players with no international exposure, having failed to play any international friendly match in preparation for the tournament, he still believes that his charges can deliver.
“We trained for a week preparing for this game. The boys are ready and up to the challenge,”said Chatama.
The coach said the team travelled with 17 players instead of 20.
“The remaining three will be arriving tomorrow [today]. This is a setback considering that we expected all the 20 players to be together. Nevertheless, we expect to do well,” he said.
Malawi finished third in the last two tournaments, but Chatama is optimistic of goinga step further to the final to qualify for the continental event.
The team last qualified for the Under-17 Afcon tournament in 2009 and emerged champions as hosts in 2001.
Malawi finished third twice, fourth once and in the group stages twice in the last five Cosafa Under-17 editions.
Mozambique were runners-up once and finished in group stages twice. They did not take part in two editions.
They will bank their hopes in the likes of defender Tadala Mughogho, midfielder Moffat Mnyotho and striker Luka Ligomeka.
Malawi’s next match will be against Angola this Friday before winding up their group fixtures against Lesotho on Sunday.
Group B has Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe and E-swatini while Group C comprises South Africa, Botswana, Mauritus and Comoros.
Group winners and the best runner-up across the three groups will progress to the semi-finals scheduled for December 11. The final will be played on December 13.
The Malawi Girls Under-17 national team will also take part in the Cosafa Under-17 Girls Championship, which rolled kicked off yesterday. The girls will set out their campaign against South Africa in Group B at the UJ B Soweto Stadium on Thursday.
