By Peter Fote in Windhoek, Namibia:
The Malawi Men’s Under-20 National Football Team has edged closer to qualifying for the semifinals of the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games despite settling for a 1-1 draw with Angola at Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek, Namibia, Sunday.
Malawi will face Namibia Tuesday in a match they must avoid defeat in their quest to reach the last four.
Currently, Malawi and Angola are tied with four points each whereas Namibia are third with three points.
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Zimbabwe anchor the group without a point.
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Two top teams from each group will reach the semifinals.
The junior Flames’ player of the moment Mwisho Mhango underlined his class when he scored his third goal of the tournament after he put Malawi in the lead in the 17th minute before Clemente Gonçalves equalised in added time of the
first half.
Malawi Under-20 Coach Millias Pofera Jegwe said it was possible to reach the semifinals.
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However, Jegwe said his charges must improve their endurance level against Namibia to stand a chance of progressing into the last four.
“We came here to win and we are on a mission. We just have few areas to improve on, especially fi tness levels. The boys need support and we will not be intimidated by the large numbers of their supporters.
We will play 11 against 11,” Jegwe said.
During Sunday’s match, Malawi looked a more dangerous side in the opening minutes but it was Angola who got the first goal attempt in the th minute, through midfielder Paulino Bulika.
Malawi’s talisman, Mhango, followed up his opening brace against Zimbabwe with another solid performance after he beat a forest of defenders, leaving goalkeeper Gelson Domingos helpless.
Angola then pushed hard, pressing Malawi and Goncalves equalised in the final minute of the first half to level the scores.
Elsewhere, the Malawi Women’s Under-20 National Football Team suffered a setback in its mission to qualify for the semifinals after they played out to a goalless draw against Zimbabwe.
The young Scorchers have two points from two matches after drawing with Namibia in their opener on Friday.
The Malawi Women’s Under-20 team will face Zimbabwe Tuesday.
Young Scorchers coach Linda Kasenda admitted that it would be a tall order to reach the semifinals but was quick to say everything was possible.
“We will try to get a result and we just have to improve our scoring and coordination between midfielders and strikers,” she said.
