Malawi went to the top of Group B at the Cosafa U17 soccer tournament after a great 6-1 victory against Botswana at the Khomasdal Stadium on December 9.
Malawiâ??s stocky striker Rafik Mussa scored a hattrick as they outplayed Botswana from the start.
Malawi immediately went on the attack and opened their account in the first minute through a goal by Andy Simukonda. Malawi continued to come forward and Simukonda made it 2-0 when he stabbed in a cross in the 16th minute.
Malawiâ??s wingers Lawrence Milanzi and Kelvin Mkandawire were causing havoc down the wings with their tricky runs while Mussa was a constant danger in the box.
Lucky Malata headed in from a corner in the 27th minute, while Mussa made it 4-0 just before halftime when he latched onto a through ball and chipped the ball over the keeper.
Botswana opened their account in the 67th minute through Maxwell Meshack, but Malawi finished stronger and two more goals by Mussa in the 75th and 87th minutes gave Malawi a comfortable victory.
Swaziland beat Namibia
At the Sam Nujoma Stadium Swaziland beat Namibia 3-1in Group C after running up a 3-0 lead before halftime.
Namibia looked out of sorts against their bigger and more physical opponents and Swaziland already opened their account in the eighth minute from the penalty spot.
Namibiaâ??s Hendrik Somaeb fouled Wandile Shabangu in the box and Thando Magaya beat Namibian keeper Collin Ndjai from the penalty spot.
Swaziland went further ahead when an unmarked Majaha Dlamini headed in from a corner, while Sibonginkosi Gamedze made it 3-0 in the 38th minute when he beat Namibiaâ??s defence with a quick counter attack. Namibian keeper Ndjai did well to stop his initial shot, but Gamedze was on hand to hit the rebound into the net.
Namibiaâ??s best chance in the first half came when they hit the bar from a corner, while Eslin Kamuhanga and Joseph Nairenge put in some strong runs down the wings.
Namibia were awarded a penalty shortly after halftime after a foul in the box and Kamuhanga sent the keeper the wrong way to open Namibiaâ??s account.
Swaziland had two players sent off in the second half â?? Thando Magaya in the 60th minute for a foul tackle and Muzi Dlamini for a second yellow card in the 76th minute â?? but Namibia could not turn their advantage into goals.
Sylvester Ortmann created several chances from midfield but Swazilandâ??s defence managed to stand firm.
Zimbabwe beat Angola
In a tightly contested match at the Khomasdal field, Zimbabwe beat Angola 2-1 to go to the top of Group C.
Martin Mutanda put Zimbabwe ahead in the 15th minute, but Angola equalised at the start of the second half through Hermenegildo Bartolomeu. Zimbabwe winger Ashley Mukwenya however scored a last minute winner with a great shot from the edge of the box to put Zimbabwe top of the group.
In a Group A match, Lesotho notched up their first victory of the tournament when they beat Mauritius 1-0 through a 64th minute goal by Thabo Mohalali.