Malawi Under-20 Women’s National Team head coach Maggie Chombo says she will deploy a 4-5-1 formation against Guinea-Bissau in their 2026 Under-20 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro in Bissau this afternoon.
Chombo said the decision is informed by limited knowledge about their opponents.
The system provides defensive solidity by packing the midfield with five players behind a back four and a lone striker.
When used effectively, particularly after taking the lead, it helps the team remain compact and preserve an advantage.
“We need to win this game at all costs because it will determine the second leg at home. The first game, whether home or away, is the most important,” said Chombo.
Guinea-Bissau head coach João Domingos Loa Na Fatcha said his players are in good physical condition and have shown readiness for the encounter.
This is the third round of the qualifiers, with Malawi progressing on the back of a 3–1 aggregate victory over South Sudan.
In the first round, the Young Scorchers beat the Central African Republic 4–2 on aggregate.
Guinea-Bissau advanced to this stage on a walkover after Congo-Brazzaville withdrew before the first leg without providing any explanation.
The fixture marks Guinea-Bissau’s first competitive match since 2024.
They last played in a friendly, losing 3–0 to Senegal on 29 May 2024.
The second leg will be played between 12 and 14 February 2026 at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
The winner of this round will face either Nigeria or Senegal in the next stage of the qualifiers, with the first leg scheduled between 1 and 3 May 2026 and the second leg between 8 and 10 May 2026.
