Frank Mojah Dzuwa

The Junior Flames have missed out on qualification for the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations despite staging a late comeback to beat Comoros 2-1 in their final COSAFA U-20 Championship Group C match in Mozambique on Wednesday.

Comoros took the lead in the 23rd minute through Ziyad Ali Moussa, leaving Malawi chasing the game for most of the match. The Junior Flames finally found the equaliser in the 90th minute when Comoros defender Keldi Issilamou-Hamza turned the ball into his own net.

Man of the match Austin Yasini then completed Malawi’s comeback in the sixth minute of added time to secure all three points.

The result gave Malawi six points from three matches, having also beaten Botswana 3-0 after losing their opening match 2-0 to Zambia.

However, despite finishing second to Zambia in group C, it was not enough to take the Junior Flames through to the next stage and a place at the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

Coach Enos Chatama said the team’s failure to make proper use of their chances in the opening matches played a major role in their unsuccessful qualification campaign.

“Quite a good win but not really satisfied considering we came here to qualify to Africa Cup of Nations. We never did our homework properly,” said Chatama.

Chatama said the team also lacked professionalism and mental strength, while the players became conscious of the goal difference required to progress after seeing results involving Angola and Mozambique.

“The attitude was good. We lack professionalism and mental strength,” he said.

He pointed the match against Botswana, where Malawi created several chances, as one of the games in which the team failed to make the most of its opportunities.

The Junior Flames finish their Group C campaign with two wins and one defeat, beating Botswana and Comoros while losing to Zambia.