The propitious and fledgling Flames football prospects, the Malawi Under-17 national football team, are currently in Zimbabwe to compete in the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2026 COSAFA qualifiers scheduled for 11–20 September 2025.
The COSAFA contest also seeks to serve as the qualifier for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), offering the Junior Flames a chance to bolster their place on the continental stage.
Malawi under-17 head coach Enos Chatama named his final 21–man squad before the team departed the country’s football base in Blantyre.
Chatama said, “I have the confidence that the boys are ready and sturdy to compete at the competition.
“I am sure that they will make the country proud.”
“We’ve been in camp for almost a month now, and the boys have worked really hard,” Chatama said. If they perform the way they’ve been training, we have a good chance.
“We’re going there with a purpose, to win and qualify for AFCON,” added Chatama.
Chatama stated that the team is aware of the strong competition but believes they can use their underdog status as motivation to turn the tables around.
Malawi is in Group B alongside Zambia, South Africa, and Madagascar.
The team will play its first match against Madagascar on Friday before facing sworn rivals, the noisy neighbours, the young Chipopolo boys of Zambia, and the spoiled Ramaphosa boys, the junior Bafana Bafana of South Africa, later in the group stages.
Below is the full Squad:
GOALKEEPERS
Oppex Kantuwanje – Luwinga Inclusive Academy
Jacob Banda – Topik Academy
Chisomo Mdoka – Play Football Malawi
DEFENDERS
Gerald Phiri – Luwinga Inclusive Academy
Tadala Mughogho – Ascent soccer
Francis Alfazema – Nyambadwe United
Hastings Makwenda-Ekhaya Youth
Hope Musitafa – Ekhaya Youth
Joel Maziya – FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Youth
MIDFIELDERS
Moffat Mnyontho-Silver strikers’ youth
Shaban Daudi-Mzuzu City Hammers youth
Faizo Mangulenje Phiri – Ascent Soccer
Vincent Thomson-CC Stars
Owen Kamwiyo – Luwinga Inclusive Academy
Elie Samuel Rundles-Kalonji Soccer Academy-USA
Zaithwa Wedson – Mpasa Sporting
STRIKERS
Okester kanyenda – MK Academy
James Lumbe – Ekhaya FC
Luka Ligomeka – Soche Madrid
Chikondi Howa – Namasala Academy
Joel Yakobe – Luwinga Inclusive Academy.
“We’re going there with a purpose qualify for AFCON.”
Enos Chatama
Malawi Under-17 national team head coach
