Under 20 coach eyes Afcon qualification

The Malawi National Football Team Under-20 Head Coach, Milias Pofera Jegwe has said the main target of the team is to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals despite being placed in a tricky group of the Cosafa region qualifiers. The junior Flames were placed in group C alongside neighbours Zambia, Botswana and Comoros, according to the draw which was held yesterday, Wednesday in Johannesburg, South Africa. Speaking in reaction to the draw, Jegwe said the team is in a tough group but the target will be to qualify for the continental showpiece. "It is a very competitive group. Zambia are regular champions and the most successful team in Cosafa Under-20 history with 11 titles. Botswana and Comoros are also teams that can surprise you. For us, it is a great chance to test ourselves early. "Our target is clear. For our group, it is very difficult, each and every game is a final. Our target is clear, it is to go there, compete and qualify for the 2027 Afcon finals, representing Malawi's pride," Jegwe said. Football analyst and writer, Antony Isaiah Jnr said the target is achievable only if there are good preparations for the tournament. "Last year the team reached the final, unfortunately, they lost to South Africa. They had a good run and I strongly believe that the players are still around, and recently, there was a team which went to region five games in Botswana, there are also some good players in that squad," he said. Group A brings together Mauritius, who host the tournament, alongside Mozambique, Namibia and Seychelles, while Group B sees South Africa-traditionally one of the region's football powerhouses-take on Angola, Lesotho and Eswatini. The championship, organised by the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa), doubles as a qualifying pathway to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and will be played in Mauritius from September 18 to 27 2026. Only the two teams that go furthest and reach the final of the regional championship will seal automatic qualification to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by Ghana in February and March next year. In 2025, Malawi had their best record in 20 years as they reached the final of the tournament before losing to South Africa in final.

WIRE — The Malawi National Football Team Under-20 Head Coach, Milias Pofera Jegwe has said the main target of the team is to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals despite being placed in a tricky group of the Cosafa region qualifiers. The junior Flames were placed in group C alongside neighbours Zambia, Botswana and Comoros, according to the draw which was held yesterday, Wednesday in Johannesburg, South Africa. Speaking in reaction to the draw, Jegwe said the team is in a tough group but the target will be to qualify for the continental showpiece. "It is a very competitive group. Zambia are regular champions and the most successful team in Cosafa Under-20 history with 11 titles. Botswana and Comoros are also teams that can surprise you. For us, it is a great chance to test ourselves early. "Our target is clear. For our group, it is very difficult, each and every game is a final. Our target is clear, it is to go there, compete and qualify for the 2027 Afcon finals, representing Malawi's pride," Jegwe said. Football analyst and writer, Antony Isaiah Jnr said the target is achievable only if there are good preparations for the tournament. "Last year the team reached the final, unfortunately, they lost to South Africa. They had a good run and I strongly believe that the players are still around, and recently, there was a team which went to region five games in Botswana, there are also some good players in that squad," he said. Group A brings together Mauritius, who host the tournament, alongside Mozambique, Namibia and Seychelles, while Group B sees South Africa-traditionally one of the region's football powerhouses-take on Angola, Lesotho and Eswatini. The championship, organised by the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa), doubles as a qualifying pathway to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and will be played in Mauritius from September 18 to 27 2026. Only the two teams that go furthest and reach the final of the regional championship will seal automatic qualification to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by Ghana in February and March next year. In 2025, Malawi had their best record in 20 years as they reached the final of the tournament before losing to South Africa in final.

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