COSAFA Cup | Group Stage | 2nd Leg

Jun 8, 2025 at 2pm UK

Independence Stadium

Namibia vs Malawi

Match preview

For the third consecutive year, Namibia failed to secure a victory on the opening day of the COSAFA Cup, fighting back to salvage a 1-1 draw against Angola in Thursday's Group B opener.

In a match that saw Rayo Vallecano player Randy Nteka receive a red card, Depu scored in the 90^(th) minute to put Angola ahead, but Ivan Kamberipa equalised in the seventh minute of stoppage time to force a draw.

This result means that Collin Benjamin’s team have now gone five games without defeat across all competitions, picking up four draws and one win, having lost each of the five matches preceding this run.

During this period, they picked up four points from two World Cup qualifying games, claiming a 1-0 victory over Malawi before drawing 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea in March, thereby extending their unbeaten run in Group H.

The Brave Warriors have won three and drawn three of their six World Cup qualifying matches so far, collecting 12 points to sit second in the group standings, four points behind Tunisia and two above third-placed Liberia, just below the playoff spot.

Namibia will be looking to build on Thursday’s comeback against Angola as they attempt to progress further than they did in the 2024 COSAFA Cup, where they were defeated 5-0 by Angola in the final.

Meanwhile, Malawi were denied a dream start to their new COSAFA Cup campaign when they lost 1-0 to Lesotho in Thursday's other group fixture.

In their first appearance in the Southern African tournament since losing to South Africa in the third-place play-off in 2023, the Flames lacked cutting edge in attack, and Makara Ntaitsane scored in the 83rd minute to hand Lesotho all three points.

Malawi have now lost each of their last three matches, having suffered consecutive defeats against Namibia and Tunisia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers during the March international break.

Kalisto Pasuwa’s team are bottom of Group H of the World Cup qualifiers with six points from six matches, only above São Tomé and Príncipe, who have lost all six of their group matches, and six points off the play-off spot.

Next up for Malawi is the tough challenge of playing an opposing side that has remained unbeaten in 12 of the last 16 meetings between the two nations, winning eight and drawing four since their first encounter in June 1997.

Recent Performance

Namibia COSAFA Cup form: D

Namibia form (all competitions): LDDWDD

Malawi COSAFA Cup form:L

Malawi form (all competitions):WWWLLL

Team News

Following an injury-free clash against Angola in the midweek opener, Benjamin could name a similar starting XI, with Ngero Kaanjuka, Katua, Paulus Ileni, Amutenya and the 27-year-old Moses Shidolo teaming up in midfield.

Kamberipa, who plays for Orapa United, opened his account for the Brave Warriors with his equaliser against Angola last time out, and is expected to keep his place in the back four alongside Kennedy Eib, Charles Hambira and Sisqo Haraseb.

In attack, Black Leopards striker Bethuel Muzeu, who scored five goals in the last four games of the South African Motsepe Foundation Championship, is expected to lead the front three alongside Alfeus Leevi and veteran forward Joslin Kamatuka.

Like Namibia, Malawi have no injuries heading into Sunday’s crucial match, and we should see Nyasa Big Bullets’ trio of Wongani Lungu, Chawanangwa Gumbo, and 25-year-old Yankho Singo in the midfield once again.

Zeliati Nkhoma, who struggled to make his mark against Lesotho, could drop to the bench this weekend, with Promise Kamwendo pushing for a starting role in attack. Meanwhile, Maxwell Paipi and Blessings Mpokera should form the centre-back pairing.

Possible starting lineup

Namibia possible starting lineup:

Ndisoro; Eib, Kamberipa, Hambira, Haraseb; Katua, Amutenya, Shidolo; Muzeu, Leevi, Kamatuka

Malawi possible starting lineup:

Chokooka; Lameck, Paipi, Mpokera, Silwimba; Lungu, Singo, Gumbo; Mpinganjira, Nkhoma, Salima