JBF close to Airtel quarter-finals

Malawi representatives at the Airtel Rising Star African Championship in boys category, Joyce Banda Foundation (JBF), just need a draw against Ghana to qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition in Nairobi, Kenya.

However, the girls representatives Namalimwe CDSS are out of the competition following a 3-1 loss to Uganda on Wednesday.

Namalimwe also lost 11-0 in their first game to Kenya on Monday. They will play their last game against Sierra Leone this (Thursday) morning.

JBF have four points after a 5-1 win against Kenya on Monday and a 1-1 draw with Madagascar on Tuesday. As of Wednesday morning, they were topping Group A with four points.

Kenya are already out of the competition after losing their second match 1-0 to Ghana who were playing Madagascar as we went to press.

JBF coach Robert Munthali said in a telephone interview from Nairobi that his charges will go for a win against Ghana.

“They are a strong team that depends on a physical game. They also defend well and are fast on counter attacks. But we will develop a proper game plan for them. After the Kenya win my boys thought it was going to be easy all along and that is why we struggled against Madagascar, but I have told them to approach every game seriously because we want to win this championship,” said Munthali.

Ignacious Makoloni, Frank Kadamanja and Wongani Kachisanga are the potential match winners for JBF.

The competition has attracted teams from 16 African countries where Airtel operates.