The Malawi national football team will face neighbors and defending champions Zambia at the 2023 Hollywoodbets COSAFA cup group B opening match tomorrow 6 July, 2023 at king Goodwill Zwelithin stadium in Durban South Africa from 6pm.
After facing Zambia, the Flames will take on Seychelles on Sunday 9th July in their second game before playing their last group match against Comoros on Tuesday 11 July, 2023 at Chatsworth stadium.
The Flames are in group B together with Zambia, Seychelles and Comoros. Coach Patrick mabedi on Tuesday evening released a 25- member squad which include eight uncapped players to represent Malawi at the tournament which starts today and end on Sunday 16th July 2023.
This is the 22nd time for the Flames to compete at the regional showpiece and have only reached the finals in two occasions in 2002 and 2003. In 2015 Malawi won the COSAFA cup plate after defeating Zambia 1-0.
This year’s competition has changed format as all the teams will enter the group stage. There will be three groups of four nations and winners in each group and the best runner-up will advance to the knockout stage.
The new format will allow each nation to play between three and five matches and there will be no plate competition at this year’s tournament.
Group A consists of South Africa, Namibia, Eswatini and Botswana. Group B consist of Zambia, Malawi, Seychelles and Comoros. Group C consists of Mozambique, Angola, Mauritius and Lesotho.
The Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) wishes the Flames all the best as they compete at this year’s tournament.