SThe Malawi U17 National Team start their COSAFA U17 Youth Championship campaign this afternoon as they take on Botswana in the opening match of Group B.
Coach Deklerk Msakakuona said on Thursday that his boys are geared to fight for a place in the knockout stages as they aim for AFCON Qualification.
This year’s tournament is being used as a Regional qualifier for the 2021 CAF U17 African Cup of Nations finals to be held in Morocco.
Msakakuona says his boys have already adapted to the South African weather and look forward to start with a win.
“The boys are in good shape to start the tournament on a high note. Looking at how they have performed in training I am confident they will deliver starting with the Botswana game.
“This is a big tournament as it is a qualifier for the AFCON. But we don’t want to pressurise the boys because they already know that winning is the order of the day. We want them to play and enjoy the game and if they enjoy the game, results will eventually come,” he said.
Malawi and Botswana last met in the 2017 Cosafa U-17 Championship in Mauritius and the Junior Flames won 2-0.
In other group B match Zambia will face Comoros later in the day.
The Junior Flames will meet Zambia on Sunday while their last Group Stage match is against Comoros on November 25.
