The Junior Flames Head Coach, Bob Mpinganjira gas promised to break the jinx at this year’s Cosafa Championship| African Cup of Nations qualifiers as the team heads to Maputo, Mozambique where the tournament will be hosted.
The former Flames and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers striker made the remarks on Monday when announcing his final squad that he has entrusted to deliver at the regional showpiece.
The team started camping last week and Mpinganjira said the preparations have been young well giving him the courage to remain hopeful that Malawi can break the jinx of failing to win the trophy.
“We are very hopeful that we are going to have a very good tournament,” said Mpinganjira. “We have never won the tournament, but we hope to this year. We have talked to the players about the importance of this tournament and that we have to go compete and win the Cup, and I am very sure that every player is geared up and that we will get good results.”
Malawi are in Group C alongside South Africa, Comoros and Lesotho and will begin their group stage campaign against South Africa on Friday September 27, before facing Comoros three days later. Their final group stage match is against Lesotho on October 1st..
Malawi will seize this crucial chance to stake a claim for continental glory with the finalists in Mozambique earning a place at the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations next year, where the top four teams in turn qualify for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile.
Malawi have qualified for the AFCON U20 on one occasion, finishing in the group stages in Ethiopia in 1999 when they lost all three games. They finished a credible fourth in the COSAFA Under-20 Championships in Botswana in 2011 having not played in the previous two installments of the competition, and then did not appear again in 2013.
Malawi are yet to win the regional showpiece competition, but did reach the final in 2003 when they lost out to Zambia in the decider. The side last made it out of their group 13 years ago but lost 4-2 to Angola in the semifinals and were then beaten 1-0 by hosts Botswana in the third-place play-off. They did manage third in 1986.
The Junior Flames came closer to winning ut in 2017, gaining five points, but missing out on top spot in their pool on goal-difference to Uganda after a disappointing outing in their previous tournament as they could not make it past the first round, as a draw and a loss meant they finished second in their three-team pool.
There was more frustration in 2018 as the side finished bottom of their pool with just a single point from three games after losses to Zambia and Central African guest nation DR Congo, and a draw with Mozambique.
They improved in Zambia in 2019, beating Comoros (4-0) in their opener, but a draw with Botswana (2-2) and a loss to the hosts (2-1) meant they did not advance.
Their appearance in 2020 was also a tough outing as they won only one of their three games, against Comoros (1-0), before losses to Namibia (2-1) and Zambia (2-0) to exit in the group phase.
They won two games in 2022, beating South Africa (2-0) and Namibia (5-2), but a surprise loss to Comoros (0-2) meant there were three teams on six points in the pool and they missed out on the head-to-head rule.
Bob names a 20-man squad for Cosafa Championship
Bob Mpinganjira has entrusted 20 players to deliver at the tournament in Mozambique this year, he announced it on Monday at Mpira Village in Blantyre.
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers’ Assistant Coach who is being assisted by FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserve Head Coach, Enos Chatama included eight Bullets Reserve players, super league players and two foreign based Ascent Academy players.
Mighty Waka Waka Tigers’ forward, Masambiro Kaluwa, Chitipa United’s midfielder, Stimella Muyira, have all made it to the last squad released.
Below is the full Squad:
GOALKEEPERS
Amos Sande(Ekhaya) Innocent Kamwambi (Lube FC)
DEFENDERS
Washali Jaziya(Silver Strikers) Kondwani Tebulo(FCB Nyasa Big Bullets)Edward Thengo (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets RSV) Herimasi Masinja( Ascent Academy) Elias Mwaywanga(Karonga United Rsv) Happy Mphepo (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets)
MIDFIELDERS
Precious Kwalenga (Mighty Tigers) Francis Malikebu (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets RSV) Blessings Kanowa(FCB Nyasa Big Bullets RSV) Madalitso Safuli (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets RSV) Zanil Jusabu (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets RSV) Mac Kwalira(Mkwichi PVT School) Misheck Billiat (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets RSV) Mwisho Mhango(Ascent Academy) Stimella Muyira ( Chitipa United)
STRIKERS
Masambiro Kalua (Mighty Tigers) Benson Chifundo Makawa(Kamuzu Barracks) Adriel Kaduya (Silver Strikers).
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