Malawi U20 have been eliminated from the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier after finishing second in Group C.

The team suffered their second defeat of the tournament, losing  3-2 to Lesotho.

Lesotho’s win left a complex calculation for second place in the pool, but Malawi took the spot by virtue of goals scored.

When three teams level on points the results from matches between those sides are used to place them in order in the table.

Each side had three points and a +0 goal-difference, but Malawi scored four goals to Lesotho’s three and Comoros’ two.

Having seen Malawi place second, the head-to-head record between Comoros and Lesotho was needed to decide third and the islanders took it by virtue of their 1-0 win in their opening pool game.

The calculation for the best runner-up across all the pools sees the results of the teams that finish bottom in Groups A and C discarded to level the playing field with the three-team Group B, where Zambia finished second with three points and a -1 goal-difference.

Botswana were the second placed team in Group A, but with only their two draws against Zimbabwe and Eswatini counting towards the calculation, they had two points and so finish below Zambia.

When only the points from matches involving South Africa, Malawi and Comoros were taken into account in Group C, Malawi came out with three points but a -4 goal-difference, putting them behind Zambia as well.

Lesotho took the lead when Paseka Maile was brought down in the box and he stepped up to score from the penalty-spot by sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Chewane Nthaka scored a second goal from a rebound after Tholang Makuru’s well-placed header hit an upright.

Maile registered his second goal after 57 minutes when he outran his opponent to make it 3-0. At that stage Lesotho were looking good for second place.

But Hermas Masinja pulled one back and when Mwisho Mhango scored a second goal from a penalty with five minutes remaining after Lehlohonolo Leemisa handled the ball in the box, the equation turned again.

Malawi U20 head coach Bob Mpinganjira commented after the match: “It was a very good game in my view; we dominated throughout, but we conceded avoidable, silly goals. I think we lacked communication at the back, and we could have done better. The kids are still in the learning process. We’ll go back, review things, and guide them in the right direction.”

LINE UP : Willard Sande, Kondwani Tebulo, Washali Jaziya, Hermas Masinja, Francis Malikebu, Elias Muywanga(Zanil Jussab16′), Adiel Kaduya, Madalitso Safuli, Masambiro Kalua(Mwisho Mhango 45′), Happy Mphepo,Misheck Billiat (Stimela Muyila 45′)