By Praise Majawa:
The Malawi Under-15 boys and girls’ national schools football teams have a chance to make history when they compete at the Caf African Schools Football Championship Cosafa qualifier in Saldanha Bay, South Africa, from December 4 to 6.
The two teams will be among nine Southern African nations chasing qualification for the 2027 continental finals, with winners in each category securing a place.
Malawi will be hoping to build on their previous experiences in the competition, having hosted its inaugural edition in Lilongwe in 2022.
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Last year, Malawi claimed a podium finish after the girls’ team secured bronze by beating Zimbabwe 2-1.
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However, the boys’ team missed out on third place after losing to eSwatini in a penalty shootout.
The 2026 edition presents another opportunity for the young footballers to prove their potential against Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, hosts South Africa, defending champions Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Communications Officer Collins Nsunza said Malawi were targeting better performances in both categories.
“In the coming days, we will begin preparations for the tournament, with our main focus on improving on last year’s performances and achieving better results in both categories,” Nsunza said.
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Zambia will arrive as the team to beat after winning both the boys’ and girls’ titles in Stellenbosch last year, ending South Africa’s dominance.
Malawi Schools Sports Association (Massa) President Blackson Malamula said the initial camp had been completed, with the next one scheduled for next week from November 19, involving 30 boys and 30 girls.
“We have eligible players for the qualifiers. This is a developmental camp; so, we will not be under pressure for results as we are developing these players for the future,” Malamula said.
Beyond qualification, the tournament offers financial incentives for school development, with winners in each category receiving $100,000, runners-up $75,000 and third-placed teams $50,000.
