By Mphatso Sam
Blantyre, November 24, Mana: The third draw of 2021 Confederation of Southern African Football Association (COSAFA) Under-17 Championship has seen Malawi Under 17 National Football Team being drawn in Group B, avoiding their rival neighbours Zambia who are in Group A.
The U-17 team is in Group B alongside Angola, Seychelles and Botswana while Group A has Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and hosts, Lesotho.
This is the third time for COSAFA to make changes to the draws as at first Malawi were in Group B alongside Angola, Botswana, Seychelles and defending champions South Africa while Group A had Mauritius, Eswatini, Zambia and Madagascar.
Following Zimbabwe’s late entry into the tournament, COSAFA changed the draw and Malawi were drawn in Group C alongside Zambia and Seychelles while Group A had Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Madagascar whereas Group C had Angola, Mauritius, South Africa and Botswana.
In COSAFA’s latest announcement on Monday, the tournament will now have eight teams split into two Groups of four teams each following South Africa, Mauritius and Madagascar’s withdraw from the tournament.
The COSAFA U-17 Youth Championship, which will be played from November 28 to December 8, 2021 in Maseru, Lesotho, will be played as part of the 2020 Region 5 Youth Games.
Malawi Under-17 National Team Coach, DeKlerk Nsakakuona said with the preparations they are upbeat of doing better at the tournament.
“We have played against Angola and Botswana so they will be exciting matches against these two teams.
“It’s only Seychelles which we have not played with but because we have played against Mauritius and Madagascar whom their style of play is very similar to that Seychelles, we have a clue of how to play against Seychelles. We will work hard in all matches to do better,” he said.
The Under 17 will first play against Seychelles on November 30 before meeting Botswana, both matches to be played at Sesoto Stadium.
The Nsakakuona’s side will play Angola on December 5, 2021.
