Malawi’s Under-17 football teams, Under-20 netball side, and basketball and volleyball teams have been drawn against regional rivals at the 2026 Region 5 Youth Games, which Mozambique will host from 4 December.
The Junior Flames will seek an improved performance in Maputo after their 4–1 defeat to South Africa in a decisive group fixture at the previous tournament.
This year’s tournament will provide a platform for emerging players to gain international experience, while also serving as a qualifying competition for the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Malawi’s women’s Under-17 national football team has been drawn in Group C alongside South Africa, former tournament winners, and Botswana.
In netball, the Malawi Under-20 national team has been drawn in Pool A alongside Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
The Baby Queens will be hoping to progress from their group as they seek to make an impression at the tournament.
Draws were also conducted for the basketball and volleyball competitions.
Malawi’s women’s 3×3 basketball team has been drawn in Pool A alongside hosts Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, while the men’s team will face Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Eswatini in Group A.
Both the men’s and women’s standard basketball competitions will be played in a round-robin format.
Volleyball will feature two events: beach volleyball and indoor volleyball.
In indoor volleyball, Malawi’s men will compete against Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana, while the women will face South Africa, Zambia and Botswana.
Beach volleyball will also feature at the Games.
Malawi was represented at Saturday’s draw by Lusungu Banda of the AUSC Region 5 Secretariat and Regional Organising Committee, Chisomo Masamba of the committee’s Ceremonies Subcommittee, Chief of Mission Funny Mbabalo Phiri, and team manager Ambilike Mwaungulu.
