Malawi National Beach Soccer Team has been drawn in Group B alongside defending champions Senegal, neighbours Mozambique and debutants Mauritania in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals slated for next month in Hurgada, Egypt.
The tournament runs from October 19 to 26.
Malawi and Mozambique were also in the same group during the 2022 Afcon finals in Vilankulo, Mozambique, but this is the first time for Malawi to be drawn against Senegal and Mauritania.
Senegal were winners in 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2022.
Mozambique are no strangers at this stage, having finished as runners-up during the 2021 edition.
During the 2022 edition which they hosted, Mozambique came fourth.
Malawi coach Willy Kumilambe described the draw as fair.
“We know Senegal and Mozambique but not Mauritania. However, this is a fair draw to us. We are also a strong team and all the teams know about our quality,” Kumilambe said.
Malawi qualified for the finals after beating Burundi 15-14 on aggregate.
Group A comprises Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania and Ghana.
Malawi had a tournament to forget in 2022 when they lost all their three matches.
The team lost 4-2 to Mozambique before enduring a 7-3 defeat to Morocco in the second match.
They went on to lose 6-5 to Uganda in the fifth and sixth play-off.
However, there is renewed hope in the Malawi camp after the team won bronze during the 2024 Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship in Durban, South Africa, in March this year.
Morocco won the tournament after beating Mozambique.
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