………MALAWI 5-2 NAMIBIA
By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Under 20 National Football Team has painfully exited TotalEnergies U20 AFCON Egypt 2023 COSAFA qualifiers despite hammering Namibia 5-2 at Somhlolo Stadium on Wednesday.
Going in today’s match the Junior Flames needed to score more goals against Namibia in their last group C match to beat the Amajita of South Africa on goal difference which also had their assignment against Comoros Island at Mavuso Stadium in another group C match which they won 4-0.
The mission started looking promising as Patrick Mabedi coached side led Namibia 2-0 in the first half with goals from Nyasa Big Bullets Reserve FC star Chikumbutso Salima at 11th and 40th minute respectively.
In the second half Chifundo Mphasi captain of the Junior Flames extended the lead at 49th minute before Chrispine Mapemba added the fourth at 53rd minute.
However the lead spoiled the lad’s minds as they thought they have killed it all hence lost concentration as they were complacent.
The Namibian side hence utilized on this and pulled one back at 62nd minute before scoring the second three minutes later.
The two goals started killing Malawi gradually as South Africa kept the clean sheet against Comoros Island at Mavuso.
Namibia gained momentum after they had scored those goals piling pressure on junior Flames,with other efforts being denied by Joshua Chirambo for Malawi.Emanuel Saviel came from the bench to score a fifth goal for the Junior Flames at 83rd minute but it wasn’t enough to save the team until the last whistle came up.
Chikumbutso Salima was later voted player of the match.
Malawi alongside Namibia, Comoros Island have all been booted out of the tournament from group C as the Amajita South Africa sailed through to the semifinals with better goal difference after tied points 6 with Malawi and Comoros Island joined Zambia, Angola and Mozambique.
Malawi started the campaign on a high note by defeating the Amajita of South Africa 2-0 in their opening group C match, however things turned against them when they lost to Comoros Island with the same margin in their second match.
Patrick Simango, one of the long time sports reporters in the country, said Malawi failed to utilize the chances they had especially against Comoros Island game in which they lost due to complacency after defeating South Africa.
“Complacency killed the boys,competitions are tricky,if you have chances and momentum you have to utilize it”, Simango said.
Another sports analyst Charles Nyirenda known as grandmaster said the way we do things, we don’t deserve to make it to anywhere.
“The preparations for these lads were inadequate, they just assembled players who were together for three weeks without any tune up international friendly and this is the outcome. Unless we change our approach. We should forget about making any progress”, said Nyirenda.
In a post match interviews, Patrick Mabedi acknowledged bowing out of the tournament but said the boys played very well only that they lacked concentration as they conceded two goals in a space of four minutes.
“Let me thank the organizers of the tournament COSAFA. They have helped our boys to gain international exposure as we don’t have resources to participate in many junior tourney’s.
“Let’s have opportunity of keeping the boys together as it is a building process hence you can’t leave infrastructure on foundation level you need to complete it”, Mabedi said.
The semifinals of the competition will be played on Friday October 14, 2022 as Zambia will be up against Angola while Mozambique will take on South Africa in e-Swatini.
