Malawi National Beach Soccer Team coach Willy Kumilambe has warned his charges to guard against complacency when they host Burundi in the second leg of Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier at Sunbird Livingstonia Beach in Salima this afternoon.
At stake is a place at the Afcon finals to be staged in Egypt later this year. Malawi claimed a vital 7-6 away victory over Burundi in the first leg in Bujumbura last week.
Kumilambe said the players are determined to earn a back-to-back qualification.
“The battle is far from being over so we need to exercise caution. We know how they play so we expect another tough game but we will go through,” Kumilambe said.
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This is the second international beach soccer match on home soil after Malawi beat Tanzania 3-2 in July 2022 before a 6-5 loss away in Dar es Salaam. However, Malawi advanced on away goal rule after 8-8 on aggregate.
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Kumilambe is also banking on home ground advantage in this tie.
“We are playing at home so we need to give our fans something to smile about. We will definitely play to win the match,’’ he said.
Malawi will be looking for a back-to-back qualification having made their maiden appearance during the 2022 Afcon Beach Soccer finals held in Vilankulo, Mozambique.
During the tournament, Malawi finished on position six out of seven teams having lost all the three matches against Mozambique, Morocco and Uganda.
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Captain Isaac Kajamu, who scored four goals in the first leg, said the players are in high spirits.
“We must do our best to ensure that we utilise our home ground advantage,’’ Kajamu said.
This year, the team returned to the Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship after a nine-year absence but finished third after beating Saudi Arabia 5-4 at South Beach Arena in Durban, South Africa.
