Zambia Shatter Malawi’s Hopes at CAF Schools Championship

Malawi’s dreams of reaching the finals at the ongoing CAF African Schools Championship COSAFA Qualifiers in South Africa evaporated painfully under a bright afternoon sky as both the boys and girls teams bowed out to Zambia in the semifinal stage.

The boys endured a punishing 3 to 0 defeat, a scoreline that told the story of a match where Malawi fought with heart but struggled to contain a ruthless Zambian side. The girls, equally determined, saw their promising run halted with a 2 to 0 loss that left the dugout quiet and heavy with disappointment.

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Both teams had stepped into the semifinals with confidence after spirited performances in the earlier rounds. The boys swept past Lesotho and Botswana, results that kept hope alive and suggested a possible double final. But Zambia, a side that has shown admirable consistency, rose to the moment and shut the door on Malawi’s ambitions.

This year’s heartbreak comes after three years of notable progress in the tournament. Malawi has steadily carved its place among the region’s rising forces, consistently reaching knockout stages and building a reputation of courage and resilience. Though the search for a first regional crown continues, these performances have shaped a stronger, more competitive schools football foundation back home.

Even in defeat, the 2025 campaign revealed the depth of Malawi’s potential. The boys and girls displayed determination, tactical maturity and a hunger that signals a future worth believing in.

Head coach of the boys, Joseph Malizani, accepted the defeat with grace while praising his young squad.

“Our opponents used aerial balls which caused a lot of trouble for our defense. Today is gone and we will sit down with the boys to prepare to fight for the bronze medal tomorrow,” he said.

Malizani also hinted that the Zambian boys looked bigger and older compared to his under fifteen squad, a subtle admission of the physical mismatch.

Girls coach Bridget Chirwa attributed their loss to the injury suffered by her goalkeeper.

“We will not be derailed by the defeat. We played well. We will work hard to get a win over Zimbabwe and bring home the bronze. Half a loaf is better than none,” she said.

Malawi Girls will face Zimbabwe for third place while the boys will meet Eswatini in their bronze medal match tomorrow morning from 10am.