Malawi U-20 out of Cosafa cup: Fail to even score in three matches

The Malawi Under-20 national football team have been booted out of this year’s Cosafa Under-20 competition taking place in South Africa following a defeat at the hands of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) U-20.

The Junior Flames lost 1- 0 to Congo in a quarterfinal match that took place today at Moruleg stadium.

Flames’ man in charge Gerald Phiri trusted a starting eleven of Christopher Mikuwa, Kennedy Kachimanga, Azriel Johnson, Mike Mkwate, Chimwemwe Idana, Francisco Madinga, Nickson Nyasulu, Precious Sambani, Abel Mwakilama, Hadji Wali, and Kondwani Mwaila.

All teams were vibrant on ball but for Malawi it was unlucky time as the Congo side booked a place in the semifinals where Zambia await.

The lone goal scored on the 25th minute by Nathan Lukisi was enough to send the Junior Flames out.

Man in goals Mikuwa was brilliant on his area as he tried to stop almost every shot, he was seen making double save from shots of DRC’ s Chadrack Lukombe.

The Flames were pinned in their own half by the DRC but they defended strongly to avoid a thumping. The game ended 1-0.

Since the team went for the competition, they haven’t registered any win in all their games and not even scored a goal, a development which is making Malawians say Phiri’s selection model of players has yielded what he wanted.

Phiri sampled players from Under-20 FMB league, a development which raised criticisms on what criteria he and his assistant used.

In their last Group B game the Junior Flames were walloped 3 goals to nil by Zambia who became the first team to get into the semifinals.

In their first game, the Flames played out a goalless draw against Zimbabwe.