The young stars gained excellent exposure
* Giving them an opportunity to gain international exposure, compete against teams from different countries and showcase their talent on the global stage
* Winning five out of 10 matches is an encouraging achievement and a good starting point for these young talents
By Duncan Mlanjira
Malawi junior national football team concluded their participation at the inaugural FIFA Under-15 World Cup & Festival, which took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, where they ranked 79th out of 189 nations after winning five out of 10 games.
They wrapped up their campaign with victory, beating Rwanda 2-0 on Friday morning to finished on 15th position in Tier C.
The tournament was played in an 8-a-side format with 20-minute halves, divided into qualification stage and a subsequent tournament stage (Tiers A through F).
They won their first three games against Chinese Taipei 3-2 before beating Oman 3-1, Suriname also 3-1 and Hungary 2-0.
They then lost 0-4 to fellow Africans Algeria before succumbing 2-4 to South Americans Argentina, Thailand 2-6, Panama 0-4 and Luxembough 2-7.
Advertisement
FAM Media reports that the team return having had positive lessons and quotes the association’s president Fleetwood Haiya expressing his satisfaction over the boys’ exposure and experience gained.
“This is exactly the kind of platform we envisioned for our young players, giving them an opportunity to gain international exposure, compete against teams from different countries and showcase their talent on the global stage.
“Winning five out of 10 matches is an encouraging achievement and a good starting point for these young talents.
“As the Football Association of Malawi, we remain committed to supporting and nurturing these players as we build a strong foundation for the future of Malawian football,” Haiya is quoted as saying.
Fleetwood Haiya
FAM Media reports that “decisive finishing and determined defending ensured Malawi left Baku on a high”.
“A 79th-place finish among 189 nations tells part of the story. For Malawi’s young players, the foundations were laid on the pitch through goals scored, challenges met and experience gained against opposition from across the world.
“They return home with a winning finish and a clear platform for the next step in their development.”
The tournament is a new global youth football competition introduced by FIFA as part of its Talent Development Scheme — with the aim of giving young players from around the world greater access to international competition and development opportunities.
Unlike conventional World Cups, the event is designed primarily around player development and participation.
The inaugural event features boys’ teams, while a girls’ edition is scheduled for 2027 and FIFA plans to stage separate boys’ and girls’ competitions annually from 2028 onwards.
Advertisement