…….Malawi 1-5 South Africa
By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Under 17 football national team were knocked out of the TotalErnegies U-17 AFCON Algeria 2023| COSAFA Qualifier after being outsmarted by the Amajimbos of South Africa 1-5 at the magnificent Bingu National Stadium in the Capital, Lilongwe.
The visitors who looked aggressive in all departments opened the score sheet through Thato Sibiya as he blasted the ball into the net from 25 yards at 31st minute in the first half.
At halftime South Africa narrowly led by a goal to nil.
Siyabonga Mabena doubled the lead for the visitors with just one minute into the second half as he ran onto a long range ball to score.
Malawi reduced the arrears at 52nd minute through Webster Mzunda after bundling the ball across goal line after a scramble.But this was not enough to send them to the final as South Africa kept pushing for other goals.
Shakier Lee scored the 3rd goal for the Amajimbo after defeating Malawi’s ill timed offside trap at 74th minute.
Things went from bad to worse for the Derklek Msakakuona’s boys as their goal minder Julius Banda was shown a red card after fouling Thabo Tsilo.
Eventually, a penalty was awarded that Siyabonga Mabena converted it past substitute goalkeeper Shabbir Muhammad at 86th minute.
Malawi failed to keep the ball hence relied on long range speculative attempts which were easily dealt with by South Africa.
Siyabonga Mabena is current top goal scorer at the camp with nine goals.
Player of the match last night went to Gabriel Amato.
After the game Derklek Msakakuona coach for the Junior Flames acknowledged the defeat saying they prepared for the game well and the boys were in good mood to fight for the final.
“After conceding the goal in the first half,the boys seemed to have lost belief, but after reducing the deficit they started pressurizing but failed to score hence South scored.The boys stopped attacking as they sit deep at the back.It’s sad we have failed to use home ground advantage by qualifying to 2022 Algeria Africa Cup.
“It will be a tough game against Botswana in 3rd place play offs. They are also a good side whom we drew 2-2 in our first game”, Msakakuona said.
South Africa and Zambia have booked their places in the final of the TotalErnegies U17 AFCON Algeria 2023| COSAFA Qualifier after their 4-2 and 5-1 victories over Malawi and Botswana respectively in the semifinals of Region 5 Youth games at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
The two have also earned themselves a spot in the continental finals slated for April 2023 in Algeria which will be the second for Zambia and fourth for South Africa.
The final of the tournament will be played on 11th December, 2023 from 1730 hours while 3rd place play offs between Malawi and Botswana will kick off at 1130hours in the morning.
