Malawi Under-15 Men’s National Football Team head coach Joseph Malizani has named a 20-member provisional squad as the Junior Flames step up preparations for the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan.
The selected players are expected to report for camp in Lilongwe on Tuesday, 13 October, ahead of the tournament scheduled for 22 to 31 October in Baku. The squad comprises three goalkeepers, six defenders, seven midfielders and four strikers drawn from clubs and football academies across the country.
Ascent Academy and Luwinga Academy dominate the selection, contributing six players each. Malizani is expected to trim the squad to 14 players before the Junior Flames depart for Azerbaijan on Wednesday, 21 October. Malawi have been drawn in Group B alongside Algeria, Argentina, Chinese Taipei, Oman and Suriname.
The Junior Flames will open their campaign against Chinese Taipei on 24 October before facing Oman and Suriname on 25 October. They will conclude their group-stage assignments against Algeria and Argentina on 26 October.
The tournament marks the introduction of a new FIFA youth competition, with matches played in an eight-a-side format instead of the traditional 11-a-side game. The competition will provide Malawi’s young players with an opportunity to gain international exposure, test their abilities against teams from different footballing regions and showcase their talent on the global stage.
Provisional Squad :
Goalkeepers: Fightwell Msukwa (Bruno de Lions), Prince Santos (Walkers FC) and Richard Hara (Young Buffaloes).
Defenders: Elisha Nyirenda and Lameck Kamanga (Luwinga Academy), Favour Mwiba, Ruben Namate and Gerald Chimembe (Ascent Academy), and Youngson Sikaona (Chicago FC).
Midfielders: Miracle Ndovie, Jazaka Amidu, Innocent Kim and Daniel Kavala (Luwinga Academy), Takutzwa Maluwe, Rex Thomas Maiden and Mike Chilunga (Ascent Academy).
Strikers: Initious Adam (Soche Madrid), Ackim Dzuwa (Kauma), Innocent Jauma (Nyambadwe FC) and Sipho Madinga Ngwira (Chiweta Bullets).