Despite finishing their group matches at the COSAFA Cup undefeated, the Mares are boarding the next plane home after a 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Wednesday.
Mohambi Saulos' charges finished unbeaten in three matches, starting their campaign with a 1-1 stalemate against Namibia, before a 3-0 routing of Lesotho in the second match.
Yesterday, they fell behind to a fourth-minute Ennerty Chemhere goal to Zimbabwe's Mighty Warriors. Still, the team battled back to level matters through Balotlhanyi Johannes with five minutes to full-time, which, however, proved too little too late. Zimbabwe progressed as group winners, while the Mares finished second on five points and could not proceed to the semi-finals.
In the semi-finals scheduled for Friday, Zimbabwe face neighbours Zambia while Malawi is up against Mozambique in a tournament that saw hosts and favourites, South Africa's Banyana Banyana, fail to progress past the group stages.
