Malawi Under-23 national football team coach Meke Mwase says despite qualifying for the 2019 Under-23 Afcon second round, the team’s preparations were shambolic.
The coach said this after the junior Flames drew 1-1 with Botswana’s Dream Team, to qualify for the next round on a 3-2 goal aggregate.
“The preparations were not good. We played the game against Botswana without playing any friendly matches. It was as if we did not know that we will be entering this competition,” he said.
The TN Stars coach pleaded with Football Association of Malawi (FAM) to organise friendly matches ahead of the qualifier against Zambia.
“We are playing Zambia who have been giving us problems in the past. We need to prepare well for this match,” he said.
FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda said they would wait for official report from the technical panel.
“We will look at the report and the proposal on what the technical panel wants in terms of preparations for the match against Zambia,” he said.
Though Malawi managed to come from behind to beat Botswana 2-1 in the first leg, the second leg proved tough for the junior Flames.
After leading in regulation time through substitute Peter Banda’s goal, they conceded a late goal in time added on.
The side’s captain Chimwemwe Idana blamed the goal on loss of concentration.
“After beating them in Botswana, we wanted to do the same at home. Unfortunately, we conceded that silly goal in added time. Anyway, it happens in football. We have learned a lesson. The good thing is that we have qualified and the coaches will work on the shortfalls,” he said
