Malawi Beach Soccer National Team have lost 9-6 to Morocco in the semi-finals of the Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship at South Beach Arena in Durban, South Africa.
The defeat ended Malawi’s hopes of winning their first ever Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship title since the competition was introduced in 2015.
Then, Malawi won silver after 9-4 loss to Madagascar in Seychelles.
But not all is lost for Malawi as the team will fight for bronze against Saudi Arabia in an early kick off tomorrow.
Mozambique and Morocco will face each other in the final after the Mambas emphatic 8-1 victory over Saudi Arabia.
Although Malawi lost to Morocco in the semi-final, the team put up a gallant fight.
It was a game of high intensity but Morocco reigned supreme as they advanced to the final. Malawi started the match the strongest and took the lead inside two minutes through Simba Dala before O’Brien Nkhumbula doubled the lead.
Morocco pulled one goal back. But Isaac Kajamu restored Malawi’s two-goal cushion.
However, Malawi took the foot off the peddle in the second period as they allowed Morocco comeback.
At the end of second period, the two teams were tied at 4-4. Morocco upped the tempo of the match in the last period as they scored five goals while Malawi managed to more goals as the match ended 9-6.
Malawi coach Willy Kumilambe praised his troops for the spirited performance.
“The intensity of the match was very high and the players struggled to cope towards the end. I am proud of the players for a wonderful performance,” Kumilambe said.
Malawi also lost 7-3 to Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations ( Afcon) finals held in Vilankulo, Mozambique.
After the loss, Kumilambe said he has his sights on winning bronze.
“We expect a tough match against Saudi Arabia. It is our chance for revenge after they beat us in group stage,” Kumilambe said.
Malawi lost 5-1 to Saudi Arabia in the second game of the group stage. But the team beat South Africa 4-2 in the opening match before thrashing Seychelles 7-2 in the last group stage match.
