The Malawi U17 national football team will face Zambia and Seychelles in this year’s Cosafa Youth Championship scheduled to take place between November 30 and December 8 in Lesotho.

This is after a re-draw conducted in Johannesburg, South Africa on Wednesday October 27, 2021 following the inclusion of Zimbabwe in the competition. 

In the initial draw conducted last Friday Malawi were in group B alongside defending Champions South Africa, Angola, Botswana and Seychelles.

Reacting to the new draw, Head Coach Deklerk Msakakuona said: “It is a fair group. We just need to plan and prepare well for the tournament otherwise no group is easy or tough.  We are going with a new team which will be together for the next two years so we want to give them international exposure while showcasing their talent and win the games.

“We know we are meeting Zambia who defeated us in the last two tournaments but this is a new tournament with new players so we will tell our boys not be afraid of any team because of history.

 “We know that a game of football demands results and winning is the result that we want at this year’s tournament,” said Msakakuona.

Group A has Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Madagascar while South Africa, Angola, Botswana and Mauritius are in Group B.

The 2021 Cosafa U17 Championship will be played as part Region 5 Youth Games.