Two FCB Nyasa Big Bullets players were named in Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup 2023 group stage best XI following their impressive performances with the senior Malawi National Team in South Africa.
Defender Alick Lungu and wing forward Lanjesi Nkhoma were named among the standout performers as the Flames contributed five players in the best XI.
Malawi played three games in the group phase, winning all to book a place in the semi-finals against Lesotho this afternoon.
Bullets contributed six players to the Flames, including first-team members Lungu, Nkhoma, Patrick Mwaungulu, Frank Willard and reserves members Chrispine Mapemba and Austin Chirambo.
Five have made appearances in Malawi’s successful journey to the semis except for goalkeeper Chirambo.
Lungu was named Player of the Match when Patrick Mabedi’s side defeated Zambia 1-0 in the first match last week whilst Nkhoma scored and had an assist when Malawi defeated Seychelles 2-0 in the second game.
The last group stage encounter saw Mwaungulu named Player of the Match as Malawi beat Comoros Island 2-0 to qualify for the last four of the competition. The midfielder was the star man as he won a penalty kick that was converted by Chawanangwa Kaonga before he scored the second goal.
Apart from the duo, Blue Eagles goalkeeper Brighton Munthali, who has kept three clean sheets; Zambia-based striker Kaonga, who plays for Zanaco, and unattached defender Dennis Chembezi were also included in the best XI alongside Mabedi, who was named best coach.
A win this afternoon will see Malawi reaching the Cosafa Cup final for the first time since the 2002 and 2003 editions in which they made back-to-back final appearances before losing to South Africa and Zimbabwe, respectively.
