Malawi Beach Soccer National Team will be on revenge mission when they face Morocco in the semi-final at the ongoing Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship at South Beach Arena in Durban, South Africa on Friday.
The two teams are no stranger to each other having met at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals group match encounter which the Atlas Lions triumphed 7-3 in Vilankulo, Mozambique.
However, this is a perfect chance for Malawi to avenge the 2022 defeat and write their own piece of history at the Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship.
The stakes are high in the Friday’s match, as the winner will book a spot in the final of the Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship.
Malawi will be looking for their second Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship final appearance since 2015 in Seychelles where they won silver following 9-4 loss to Madagascar.
The loser of this match will battle for bronze medal against loser of the other semi-final between Mozambique and Saudi Arabia to be played on Friday later.
Malawi coach Willy Kumilambe said his boys have all it takes to upset the highly ranked team in Africa.
“We are ready for Morocco, we know that they are one of the best teams in Africa. It is a grudge match and the players are determined for revenge,” Kumilambe said.
Kumilambe has all the players who played against Morocco at the 2022 Beach Soccer Afcon finals.
Captain Isaac Kajamu, who has scored four goals in three matches, will lead the team alongside Sandram Saddie, Dala Simba and Martin Biliati.
Malawi advanced to the semi-finals as Group A runners-up with six points from three matches, behind Saudi Arabia on goal-difference. The team beat hosts South Africa 4-2 in the opening match before a 5-1 loss to Saudi Arabia. Malawi beat Seychelles 7-2 in the last Group A match.
Morocco finished as Group B winners above Mozambique on goal difference.
Eight teams took part in this year’s Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship.
The final will be played on Saturday at the same venue.
