Malawi and Eswatini U-23s face off in AFCON qualifier

The Malawi and Eswatini Under-23 national teams face each other in the first leg of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe. The match serves as a critical step in the qualification process for the 2027 AFCON U-23 tournament in Egypt, which acts as the pathway to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Eswatini coach Friday Myeni stated that his squad intends to play aggressively rather than adopting a defensive posture on foreign soil. Meanwhile, Malawi head coach Bob Mpinganjira aims to utilize home advantage to secure a decisive lead. The Malawi squad has been bolstered by the return of four players from the senior national team: Washali Jaziya, Blessings Kanowa, Mwisho Mhango, and Oscar Petro.