Tag Archives: COSAFA

Sports

MALAWI U20 TEAM EYES COSAFA GLORY AND AFCON QUALIFICATION

Maravi Post Reporter

By Twink Jones Gadama

Malawi Under 20 National Team Coach Bob Mpinganjira has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to win the upcoming COSAFA Youth Championship and secure a spot in the Under 20 Africa Cup of Nations.

The team departed for Maputo, Mozambique on Monday morning, ahead of the tournament’s kickoff on Thursday.

Mpinganjira’s optimism stems from the team’s successful preparations, which have equipped them to tackle the challenge.

“The preparations went well, and we are very hopeful that we are going to have a very good tournament. We have never won the tournament, but we hope to this year,” he stated.

Malawi is grouped alongside South Africa, Comoros, and Lesotho in Group C.

Their opening match is against South Africa on September 27, followed by clashes with Comoros on September 30 and Lesotho on October 1.

This year’s COSAFA U20 Championship serves as a regional qualifier for the U20 Africa Cup of Nations, with the two finalists advancing to the continental showpiece.

Mpinganjira emphasized the importance of this tournament to his players, urging them to seize the opportunity.

“We have talked to the players about the importance of this tournament and that we have to go compete and win the Cup. I am very sure that every player is geared up, and we will get good results,” he assured.

The final 20-man squad boasts a mix of experienced players and fresh talent. Notable inclusions are:- Goalkeepers Amos Sande (Ekhaya) and Innocent Kamwambi (Lube FC- Defenders Washali Jaziya (Silver Strikers) and Kondwani Tebulo (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets- Midfielders Precious Kwalenga (Mighty Tigers) and Francis Malikebu (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets RSV),Strikers Masambiro Kalua (Mighty Tigers) and Benson Chifundo Makawa (Kamuzu Barracks)

Malawi’s quest for COSAFA glory begins against South Africa, a team they have historically struggled against.

However, Mpinganjira’s charges are determined to rewrite history.

The COSAFA Youth Championship has become a vital platform for Malawian youth to showcase their skills and attract international attention.

This year’s edition promises to be thrilling, with the added incentive of AFCON qualification.

As the Young Flames embark on this critical journey, Malawian football fans eagerly await their performance.

Will Mpinganjira’s team rise to the challenge and secure a historic COSAFA title and AFCON spot?

The stage is set for an exciting COSAFA Youth Championship.

Will Malawi’s Young Flames shine bright and secure a spot in the AFCON?

Malawi, Regional, Sports

Poor Junior Flames out of U20 AFCON Egypt 2023 despite burning Namibia

Maravi Post Reporter
Poor Junior Flames in green

………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.

Sports

Malawi FA demands MK50m for Bingu Stadium renovation

Maravi Post Reporter
Bingu Stadium needs MK50m for renovation

By Dorica Mtenje

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Following the disqualification of Bingu National Stadium (BNS) for COSAFA cup games, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has asked government to provide MK50 million for the renovation of the stadium.

FAM General secretary, Alfred Gunde made the request on Monday, August 30, 2021 during a meeting with parliamentary committee on Social and development affairs.

Gunde said the stadium failed to host COSAFA games as the association had no time to renovate it as it was used as an isolation center.

He added that with the inspection of the parliamentarians they believe that they will be helped soon.

Chairperson for parliamentary committee on Social and development affairs Savel Kafwafwa called upon commercial banks to come in to help the renovation of the stadium for the country to pass the next inspection by CAF next month.

Kafwafwa is disappointing to learn that the stadium can not host the COSAFA despite the country invested MK300 billion on the stadium.

“We were supposed to be generating funds through this stadium since we built the stadium using a grant but it’s so disappointing that we are failing to renovate it,” said Kafwawa.

Bingu stadium was disqualified to host Cosafa games as it did not meet CAF requirements.

Sports

Malawi Flames Under 20 in Zambia for Cosafa

Maravi Post Reporter
Malawi Flames Under 20 in Zambia for Cosafa Under 20 games

LUSAKA-(MaraviPost)-The Flames under 20 has traveled to Zambia for the Cosafa under 20 football games.

In the group stages, The Flames is playing Comoros Island, Botswana and the Host, Zambia.

Speaking upon arrival in Zambia, the team’s Head Coach, Peter Mponda, said they travelled to Zambia not just to participate in the tournament, but to bring home tangible results.

“We know we have a challenge ahead of us but we are going to try our best. I know that Malawians have a lot of expectations and we sre not going to disappoint them,” Mponda said.

The Flames is playing Comoros Island tomorrow, Wednesday, on Saturday it will play against Botswana and finally on Sunday, it will play against the Chipolopolo Boys of Zambia.

Sports

Junior flames ramble in COSAFA Cup’ start…beat Zebras 3-0

Maravi Post Reporter
Junior flames ramble in COSAFA Cup’ start…beat Zebras 3-0

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Under-17 made a brilliant start to their 2019 COSAFA Championship campaign with a 3-0 victory over South Africa in day two of the competition played at Mpira Village on Saturday afternoon.Malawi U-17.

It was a deserving victory for the Junior Flames who dominated possession but were just very unfortunate not to find the back of the net on several attempts before finding the back of the net inside the additional minutes of the first half.

The visitors started brightly in the opening minutes but failed to convert two chances they created in the opening 10 minutes.

Despite their resilience, the visitors were 1-0 down in the additional minutes when Sakala and Salima combined to find Thom unmarked and made no mistake to slide the ball into the net, 1-0.

In the second half, Malawi continued their dominance and just 13 minutes into the half, Dave Tobias doubled the lead following brilliant display of football from Sakala and Salima, who were tormenting South Africa’s defence like nobody’s business.

Davis completed his brace just after the half hour mark when the visitors’ defense was caught napping in the line of duty to send the whole stadium into a frenzy. Salima almost scored when he dribbled past the visitors’ defense only to be denied by the upright.

In the additional minutes, Malawi’s Andrew Lameck was given marching orders following a dangerous tackle on Neo Dikgale.

In another match, Zambia thumped Eswatini 6-0 to send a statement of intent to all rivals to suggest that they are in for the title in what was another brilliant football from the Young Chipolopo boys.Moses Mulenga, Rickson Ng’ambi, Miguel Chirwa, Chipyoka Songa, Julius Kumwenda and Peter Chikola were all on the score sheet to send Zambia top of the group.

Top News

Malawi in barren draw with Mauritius as Dalitso Sailesi’s Chichewa interview draws mixed reaction

Maravi Post correspondent

Sailesi holding his man of the match trophy

The Malawi national football team fondly known as the Flames drew against Mauritius in the ongoing COSAFA cup in South Africa Yesterday. Continue reading Malawi in barren draw with Mauritius as Dalitso Sailesi’s Chichewa interview draws mixed reaction →

Sports

COSAFA: Malawi Flames fall to Tanzania Taifa Stars 0 – 2

MaraviPost

Malawi Flames
The Malawi national football team, nicknamed The Flames, is the national team of Malawi and is controlled by the Football Association of Malawi

The same old story as Malawi Flames went down 2-nil to Tanzania Taifa Stars in the Cosafa Castle Cup opening group a match at Moruleng Stadium in South Africa. Recently Tanzania Government has invested more money in the team in hope of improvement, seems to be paying off at the expense of the Malawi Flames that have struggled to get enough financial support from the Mutharika Government.

Yahya Ramadhan scored both goals in the early part of the first half of the match to send the guest nation top of the group.

 

According to those watching the match the Flames head coach Ronny Van Geneudgen who has attacked his new team for unfocused long ball play, used a very attacking minded formation, with Dalitso Sailesi, Jabulani Linje. Continue reading COSAFA: Malawi Flames fall to Tanzania Taifa Stars 0 – 2 →

Sports

Flames to face Angola, Tanzania and Mauritius in group A in COSAFA Cup

Maravi Post correspondent

Malawi Flames
The Malawi National Football Team

The Malawi national football team, the Flames, will next month, play against Angola, Tanzania and Mauritius in the Cosafa Castle Cup in group A.

This follows a draw that took place on Tuesday, in South Africa, who will the soccer tournament.

According to a report sources by The Maravi Post, the group winner will progress to the quarterfinals of the competition.

The tournament will start on June 25 and end on July 9, 2017.

The Flames were booted out of the tournament last year, after just managing to win one game before losing to Lesotho.

Thirteen out of the 14 COSAFA nations will take part in this year’s tournament; Comoros Island has withdrawn and is being replaced by guest nation, Tanzania.

Some soccer analysts believe that the competition will be used as a platform for identifying players for the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) by the Flames coach Ronny Van Geneugden.

Flames is expected to play against Comoros Island in the 2019 AFCON open qualifying game in June.

Meanwhile, the Belgium tactician announced plans to have the team assembled earlier next week, in readiness for the two crucial tournaments.

Recently Malawi was booted out of Championship of African Nations (CHAN), after losing 2-nil on goal aggregate to Madagascar.

 

Top News

Malawi Flames ready for Lesotho battle this 6 pm

Maravi Post correspondent

Malawi Flames ready for Lesotho battle this 6 pmThe Flames have vowed to fight every inch of the way when they face Lesotho’s Likuena on Thursday in a Group B deciding encounter of the Cosafa Castle Cup in Namibia. The match will start this 6 pm.

With the two teams tied on six points each sand Lesotho having a slight better goal difference, the Flames are in a must-win situation to qualify for the quarter-finals.

The group winner will face South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.

Coach Ernest ‘Wire’ Mtawali and battle-hardened midfielder Joseph Kamwendo predicted a tough encounter.

“We are anticipating a tough battle because it will be a decider, but we will fight our lungs out.

“The boys know the importance of this match and so we will take the game to Lesotho,” said Mtawali.

On his part, Kamwendo said: “This is a game we cannot afford to lose as we fight to regain the faith of Malawians.

“It will not be an easy game, but we are all geared. The important aspect will be to make use of all the chances we create.”

Meanwhile, Flames coach Ernest Mtawali has maintained the first 11 from the Mauritius game

Goalkeeper: Charles Swini

Defenders:

Harry Nyirenda
Stanley Sanudi
Miracle Gabeya
Francis Mlimbika

Midfielders:

Joseph Kamwendo
Gerald Phiri Jnr
Rafiq Namwela
Isaac Kaliyati

Forwards:

Chiukepo Msowoya
Gabadihno Mhango