Fam upbeat on African Youth Championship

Football Association of Malawi (Fam) has expressed optimism that Malawi Under-20 National Football Team will qualify for the 2023 African Youth Champion.

Fam President Walter Nyamilandu made the remarks Sunday following a successful under-20 talent identification exercise held in Mangochi.

“With the talent which has been displayed here, we are sure that Malawi will qualify for the African Youth Championship because we will have a good team which will have bonded by then,” he said.

Nyamilandu said Fam was using the Cosafa Junior championship as a preparatory tournament for the African Youth Championship slated for 2023.

The Fam boss said the on-going talent identification exercise gave the coaches an opportunity to identify players from all corners of the country unlike in the past when they were relying on players from the top flight.

The exercise attracted 80 under-20 players who formed regional select teams for the North, Centre South and East.

The teams are being coached by some of the up-and-coming coaches which were identified by Fam.

“From the 80 players, we will select the best 20 who will form part of the Under-20 National Team which will participate in the Cosafa Junior Tournament in December this year,” Nyamilandu said.

Under-20 National Football Team Coach Patrick Mabedi expressed satisfaction with the quality of players that have been assembled to compete for a place in the Under-20 National Team.

“This is how players are identified elsewhere. I am particularly impressed with the height of most of the lads and we will have a strong team which will be a thorn to other junior teams’ flesh across Africa,” he said.

Mabedi said shortlisted players will be invited for full-time camp between October and November before the Cosafa Junior Tournament.