5 players axed from Under-20 squad

Five players have been dropped from the Malawi Under-20 National Football Team squad as they are deemed overage.

The team is currently in camp at Mpira Village in Chiwembe Township in Blantyre in preparations for the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon)/ Cosafa qualifier scheduled for September 26 to October 5 in Maputo, Mozambique.

The five players— Mufulirwa Wanderers’ striker Emmanuel Saviel, Vincent Mdoka, Chrispin Mapemba, Andrew Lameck and Daniel Kudonto—were part of the initial 30-member provisional squad which coach Bob Mpinganjira summoned ahead of the tournament.

Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Technical Director Benjamin Kumwenda said, after proper scrutiny, the players were omitted from the squad.

“We want to make sure that we travel with the right age group for the tournament in line with rules and regulations. We are not taking chances. We will continue the screening exercise until we get the final squad,” Kumwenda said.

Kumwenda said the five players have already been replaced.

According to the squad which Times Sport has seen, Mpinganjira has included 10 new players.

The new players include goalkeeper Sharrif Swadiki, defenders Elias Muywanga, Joshua Ngwira, Innocent Munga, midfielders Elia Gama, Maxwell Tsakanamba and strikers Hadji Daiton, Movic Banda and Mack Kwalira.

According to Cosafa, all players must be below 20 years.

“Upper age limit; all players must be a maximum of 20 years by the end of the calendar year in which the final is played (i.e. all players on the teams were born on or after January 1 2005,” regulations of the tournament read.

The junior Flames have been drawn in Group C alongside South Africa, Comoros and Lesotho for the Afcon/Cosafa qualifier.

Group A comprises hosts Mozambique, eSwatini, Zimbabwe and Botswana whereas Group C has holders Zambia, Angola, Namibia and Madagascar.

Group winners will advance to the semi-finals and will be joined by the best runners-up.