Malawi draw lessons from Namibia, Botswana in Cosafa Cup

Flames midfielder Chimango Kayira says the team has been inspired by underdogs Namibia on how to upset favourites as Malawi face high rated Mozambique in the quarter finals Monday.

Namibia produced a brave show to dump defending champions Zambia out of the tournament with a hard fought 5-4 penalty shoutout victory.

“Right from the group stages Namibia showed great spirit and belief. They defied odds to beat Zimbabwe and nobody gave them a chance against highly fancied Zambia.

“We also go into the Mozambique match with an underdog tag and if we believe and fight hard we will carry the day,” said Kayira who plies trade in Mozambique.

He added that it will be an emotional match for him playing against his club teammates but said friendship does not count at international level.

Botswana have also reached the semi-finals through a 7-6 penalty shootouts win over host South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.

The COSAFA Cup is an annual tournament for countries from Southern Africa organized by Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA).

These countries are South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mauritius, Seychelles, Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana and Madagascar.

Other countries that have participated in this tournament, which was inaugurated after the ban against the Republic of South Africa had been lifted and the African Cup of Nations had been staged there in 1996, are Comoros and Mayotte.

Zimbabwe and Zambia have won the most titles with four wins, while South Africa and Angola have won three each.

The 2015 COSAFA Cup is the 15th edition of the COSAFA Cup.