Junior Flames through to the semi-finals

The Malawi Under 17 national team have sailed through to the semi-final berth of the African Union Sports Commission (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games following their 1-1 draw against Swaziland.

The point moved them to seven points in their three games, a mark only Zimbabwe and Angola can match, but as Malawi defeated the Angolans 1-0 in the earlier pool games, they cannot be overhauled.

Wandile Dlamini put Swaziland ahead just before halftime, but after they had Melusi Nyaweni sent off for a second bookable offence, Malawi took advantage of their numerical  extra man and equalised through Yusuf Luwanda seven minutes from time.

This is the first time since 2008 that the tam has made it past he group stages having been eliminated in the group stages in 2010 and 2012.

The team won Gold in 2008 under John Kaputa, the team made up of only 12 players, following the disqualification of the other nine members of the team, defied all odds to cruise to the final where they beat Angola 4-3 in South Africa.

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