Under-17 finish fourth

The Malawi Under-17 national team finished fourth at the 2014 African Union Sports Council (Ausc) Zone V Youth Games bronze after losing 2-1 to Namibia on Sunday in what was the young Flames’ fourth straight defeat in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Yusuf Luwanda scored in Sunday’s game against Namibia. The Derklerk Msakakuona side previously lost 2-1 and 4-0 to Zimbabwe and Zambia on Friday and Saturday respectively to end the championship dream from Group A.

Limbani Phiri scored Malawi’s consolation against Zimbabwe in a game assistant coach Elia Kananji attributed the result to faulty officiation.

Yet the start had been brighter for Malawi after they beat Angola and Mozambique before the wheels started coming off with a surprise draw against weak Swaziland on Thursday.

Kananji blamed officiation for the Zimbabwe result and for the Zambia game he claimed “it seems they featured most players from their Under-20 side”.

Malawi top performers in Zimbabwe have been Phiri, Edwin Carlos, Luwanda and Precious Msosa.