Under-20 bow out of Afcon qualifiers

The Malawi Under-20 Men’s National Football Team bowed out of the 2026 Caf U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) despite a dramatic 2-1 victory over Comoros at ABB Stadium in Maputo, Mozambique, Wednesday.

NAMED PLAYER OF

THE MATCH—Yasini

The junior Flames finished second in Group C with six points from three matches.

Zambia qualified as Group C winners with nine points from the same number of matches.

Comoros and Botswana finished with one point each.

The win was not enough to secure the best runner-up spot for Malawi as Angola and hosts Mozambique had a better goal difference after winning their respective matches Wednesday.

In a match monitored on Cosafa YouTube Channel, the junior Flames came from behind as they secured a dramatic win after scoring two goals in added time.

A Comoros defender scored into his own net in the 92nd minute before substitute Austin Yasin netted the winner five minutes later.

Ziyad Ali Moussa opened the scoring for Comoros after he weaved past Malawi defenders before beating goalkeeper Amos Sande with his right foot in the 24th minute.

In the first half, Malawi struggled to create chances.

Coach Enos Chatama made a double change when he introduced Kenneth Mwale and Grant Chibalo for Madalitso Safuli and Mwisho Mhango.

After the break, Webster Mzunda thought he had scored the equaliser but his attempt was ruled out for offside.

The junior Flames continued to pressurise Comoros and the breakthrough came in added time.

However, it was too little, too late for the junior Flames.