18 July 2018 – Malawi coach Deklerk Msakakuona has travelled with a 20-member squad to Mauritius for the 2018 COSAFA Under-17 Championships that run from 19 – 29 July.
Msakakuona, who is basking in glory after winning Malawi’s national knockout trophy Airtel Top 8 with his club Blue Eagles after beating Nyasa Big Bullets 1-0 a fortnight ago, has picked a completely new squad as the team seeks to qualify for the African Under-17 Championships in Tanzania next year.
The coach, who is also a police officer, has none of the boys who won bronze in 2016 and 2017 at regional football showpiece in Mauritius.
The team only camped for 10 days in Blantyre and lost 3-0 to the Malawi Under-20 in a warm up before leaving for Mauritius on Saturday, 14 July.
Malawi are in Group C comprising Swaziland, Angola and Zimbabwe.
The overall winner of the championship will qualify for the African Under-17 Championships, which in turn serve as the qualifiers for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
Malawi squad:
GOALKEEPERS:
Kennedy Nankhaima, Wongani Sabiti
DEFENDERS:
Vitumbiko Nyirenda, Kesten Simbi, Francis Mtoso, Tatenda Mbalaka, Evance Maliwata, Patrick Mponda
MIDFIELDERS:
Tathedwa Willard, Patrick Mwaungulu, Lovemore Mbeta, Chimwemwe Namwiyo, Blessings Mpokera, Kenneth Chagunda, Julio Chagunda, Moses Mtago, Richard Chirwa, Alick Raabson
STRIKERS:
Gift Jossam, Emmanuel Mitole