Malawi U15 come from behind to beat Chinese Taipei in World Cup openerThe Malawi Under-15 National Football Team made a winning start to the FIFA Under-15 World Cup & Festival 2026 after coming from behind to defeat Chinese Taipei 3-2 in their opening Group B encounter at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday.
Takutzwa Maluwe struck twice in the space of a minute to overturn an early deficit before Elisha Nyirenda added a third after the break, securing an opening victory for the Junior Flames.
Chinese Taipei had taken the lead through Hung-Yang Huang in the ninth minute, but Malawi responded with two goals before half-time and extended their advantage in the second half before Shan-Hao Yang’s late strike set up a tense finish. The opening exchanges produced chances at both ends, with Chinese Taipei threatening from a seventh-minute corner that goalkeeper Fightwell Msukwa dealt with at his near post.
Malawi responded almost immediately when Innocent Jauma met a corner with a header that forced the opposition goalkeeper to concede another set-piece. However, the hosts took the lead in the ninth minute when Malawi lost possession, allowing Huang to capitalise and break the deadlock.
Malawi responded with greater attacking urgency as Intious Adam tested the Chinese Taipei goalkeeper a minute later before another effort went off target. Malizani’s side continued to press for an equaliser, but the hosts held firm until Maluwe turned the game around with two goals in quick succession.
The Ascent Academy youngster restored parity in the 16th minute with a long-range strike before scoring again just a minute later to give Malawi a 2-1 advantage. The brace took Maluwe’s tally to four goals in six appearances for the Junior Flames.
With confidence growing, he came close to completing his hat-trick in the 18th minute when his effort struck the post, before another attempt sailed over the crossbar moments later. Malawi carried their one-goal advantage into the break after an impressive response to falling behind.
Chinese Taipei threatened early in the second half, but Msukwa produced an important save, picking up an injury in the process. Malawi made a change in the 22nd minute, with Lameck Kamanga returning to the field in place of Jauma.
The visitors extended their lead a minute later when Luwinga Academy’s Nyirenda reacted to a partially cleared corner, collecting the loose ball before firing home to make it 3-1.
The goal was Nyirenda’s first for Malawi in three appearances. Malawi continued to create opportunities, with Maluwe forcing another save in the 25th minute before being denied again two minutes later as he searched for his third goal.
Malizani introduced Sipho Ngwira in place of Adam in the 26th minute before Ruben Namate replaced Maluwe five minutes later.
Chinese Taipei pulled a goal back through Yang in the 33rd minute, reducing the deficit to 3-2 and setting up a closely contested finish.
Despite the renewed pressure, Malawi remained dangerous in attack, with Namate coming close in the 36th minute before the visitors won successive corners. Adam returned to the action in the 37th minute, replacing Jazaka Amidu, while Maluwe was reintroduced in place of Namate two minutes later.
Ngwira had an opportunity to restore Malawi’s two-goal cushion in the final minute, but sent his effort over the crossbar.
Malawi held firm to secure all three points on their tournament debut. The Junior Flames will return to action on Sunday with two Group B matches against Oman and Suriname before concluding their group fixtures against Algeria and Argentina on Monday.
