Mwakilama ruled out of Swaziland game
Junior Flames’ striker Abel Mwakilama has been ruled out of the Swaziland trip for the African Cup on Nations Under-20 Championship second-leg qualifier after failing to get clearance from his Portuguese fourth-tier league club Sporting Clube de Esmoriz.
Under-20 national football team manager Aubrey Nankhuni yesterday said the 19-year-old former Chitipa United forward has since been replaced by Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves’ striker Alex Tsamba.
A 26-member delegation, which includes 19 players, left for Swaziland yesterday ahead of the second-leg encounter set for Sunday.
“We failed to get a nod from the Portuguese club on Mwakilama’s availability in our squad. Therefore, we have taken on board Tsamba as his replacement,” he said.
However, the team’s coach Meke Mwase said they are confident of beating their hosts after settling for a goalless draw during the first leg at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe over two weeks ago.
He said: “We are well-prepared for the imminent encounter; we have left no stone unturned in a bid to get a win after a frustrating draw at home.
“We are determined to score as many goals as possible and we are going there with an attacking mentality.”
Flames head coach Ron Van Geneugden is among the seven officials that have accompanied the team. Others are Mwase, his deputy Lovemore Fazili, goalkeeper trainer Sibusiso Padambo, team doctor Victor Jobo, Nankhuni, accountant John Anissa and leader of delegation Severia Chalira.
The squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers:Charles Thom and Hestings Banda.
Defenders:Hadji Wali, Innocent Shema, Charles Petro, Timothy Siliwimba, Maxwell Paipi and Kelvin Kadzinje.
Midfieders: Peter Banda, Francisco Madinga, Auspicious Kadzongola, Patrick Mwaungulu, Felix Demakude, David Daudi and Franklin Titani.
Strikers: Chinsinsi Maonga, Frank Chizuze, Chikondi Mbeta and Tsamba.
