Good start for Under-23

 The Malawi Under-23 National Football Team yesterday secured a 2-0 victory over Kuwait in the Antalya Mini-International Tournament underway in Turkey. Second half goals from Innocent Shema and

Chifundo Mphasi ensured that the Junior Flames broke their lower-ranked opponents’ stubborn resistance in a hard-fought encounter monitored on Burada Television Channel.

Malawi is 119 on the Fifa rankings, 23 places above Kuwait.

After a see-saw affair that saw both sides threatening each other’s goal for the better part of the clash, Shema was left unmarked in the box as he connected home Patrick Mwaungulu’s well-taken free-kick on the right flank.

Then, when everybody thought they could not witness another goal, substitutes Mphasi and Alick Lungu made a formidable combination in added time to double Malawi’s lead.

Mphasi had an easy tap-in after receiving a lay-off pass from left-winger Lungu, who dribbled past defenders before passing to his teammate.

The Mario Marinica-led side is expected to play three matches in the transcontinental country located mainly in Western Asia and partially jn the Balkans in South East Europe.

On Saturday, the squad’s younger players, aged between 16 and 20, will play another match against Jordan Under-20 while on Monday they will play Togo.

The team’s captain Charles Petro, who plies his trade with Moldovan club Tiraspol

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Sheriff, was the only foreign-based professional in the squad after Georgia-based winger Fransisco Madinga failed to honour his call-up due to Visa complications.

The Antalya tournament is expected to help the Malawi Under-23 to prepare for the imminent African Nations Championship, the 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers and the Cosafa Cup. Some outstanding players will also be considered for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in June.

Marinica, who is Football Association of Malawi (FAM) technical director, said he was impressed with the performance of his charges.

He said: “It was a fantastic performance from the players. It was not easy to secure such a victory after a long travel. Some of the players such as Mphasi [goalscorer] arrived yesterday but they played very well.

Marinica attributed the win to his football philosophy, which he said is simple if one concentrates and it is easy to adapt