Malawi versus Mozambique: Photo Credit: COSAFA Media.
Malawi coach Enos Chatama minced no words in describing how his team conceded in the one-all draw against Mozambique on Wednesday in South Africa at the COSAFA Qualifiers for the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In a post-match press conference at UJ UW Muller Stadium ground in Johannesburg, Chatama described Mozambique’s goal scored through Gift Chibala’s 45th-minute tap-in after Malawi keeper’s fumble as silly.
He said: “It was tough considering that it was the first game of the campaign. A lot of boys are not used to playing at highest. They were cautious and jittery. We conceded one of the poorest goals of the games, which was silly I can say.”
Nonetheless, the Nyasa Big Bullets reserve coach lauded his boys for picking up form in the second half to equalize through Clifford Chisale’s strike a minute to full-time. Taking his turn, Mozambique coach Manuel Correia said both teams displayed quality performance proving that youth football is growing in the region.
“My team is confident but in the early stages, they were timid because they lacked experience. Overall, it was a good game for both teams,” he said.
Mozambique return to action on Friday when they face Lesotho whereas Malawi take on Angola at the same venue. The regional qualifiers for Southern Africa kicked off on two fronts for boys and girls on Wednesday in Johannesburg.
Two overall teams in the boys’ category will book a ticket to the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast next year. The girls are using the regional qualifiers to prepare for the AFCON finals for their age-group scheduled for Morocco next year.
THURSDAY’S FIXTURES FOR BOYS
Group B – UJ Soweto Stadium
Zimbabwe vs Eswatini (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Zambia vs Namibia (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
Group C – UJ AW Muller Stadium
Comoros vs Mauritius (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
South Africa vs Botswana (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
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