* The players were told why they were considered to represent the country
* And while the coaches will give their technical guidance, they too need to put in maximum effort
By Duncan Mlanjira
The 13-man squad of domestic league players had some tactical preparations yesterday at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe where interim head coach Kalisto Pasuwa — alongside his two assistants, Peter Mponda and Prichard Mwansa — also had a confidence-building session with the players.
In an interview, whose video is on the Facebook page of Football Association of Malawi (FAM), Pasuwa said the players were told why they were considered to represent the country and while the coaches will give their technical guidance, they too need to put in maximum effort.
The team is preparing for the remaining African Cup of Nations (AfCON) Morocco 2025 qualifiers, which are just ceremonial as Flames are already out of contention.
The team is expected to leave this afternoon through Kamuzu International Airport and will be joined by foreign-based players in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivore to face Burundi on Thursday, November 14, before closing their campaign with a home match against Burkina Faso at Bingu National Stadium on Monday, November 18.
Under fired coach Patrick Mabedi, the Flames are without a point in the qualifiers having been beaten by Burundi first 3-2 at Bingu National Stadium before Burkina Faso triumphed 3-1 at their home pitch while Senegal won 4-0 at home and 1-0 in Lilongwe in back-to-back.
Mabedi’s record in AfCON 2025 qualifiers
Senegal and Burkina Faso have already qualified for the finals in Morocco but Burkina Faso, as well as Burundi, will certainly make sure they keep their clean sheet against the Flames while Pasuwa and his strong technical team will work out to salvage some pride in winning the remaining fixtures.
Pasuwa emphasised that they need to build a team that should be able to compete at the highest international stage and also to build confidence in the players.
He indicated that they will not just throw the players in just because the Flames are out of the AfCON 2025 qualifiers but to compete favourably.
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After firing coach Mabedi following the team’s poor showing in the AfCON 2025, FAM took in Nyasa Big Bullets coach Pasuwa as caretaker head coach with Silver Strikers’ mentor Mponda as 1st assistants and MAFCO’s Mwansa as the 2nd assistant primarily to honour the last AfCON 2025.
Meanwhile, FAM is engaging with Ministry of Sports through the Malawi National Council of Sports to commence immediate recruitment of the team’s permanent coach to steer the team in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ qualifiers scheduled for next year.
They are up against Namibia, followed by an away fixture to Tunisia — both in March 2025 before meeting Namibia again away and Liberia at home — both in September.
Mabedi’s record in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ qualifiers
Then in October, the Flames will host Equatorial Guinea before traveling to confront São Tomé e Principe, whom they beat 3-1 at Bingu National Stadium in June’s Matchday 3 before losing 0-1 in Matchday 4 away to Equatoguineans — thus the need to recruit a permanent coach ahead of the games.
The Flames won 1-0 in their opening campaign away to Liberia, losing 0-1 at home against Tunisia to perch on 4th place in Group H in the race for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ to be hosted jointly by the United States of America, Mexico and Canada.
Pasuwa’s technical team — whose technical advisors are Kinnah Phiri and Young Chimodzi — hit the ground running by recalling South Africa-based striker Gabadinho Mhango (Marumo Gallants), who had been left out by Mabedi citing some reasons which were unjustified.
Also recalled was defender Charles Petro, who plays in Romania — joining other foreign-based players, defenders Dennis Chembezi (Al Qasim SC-Iraq); Charles Petro (FC Botosani-Romania); midfielders John Banda (UD Songo, Mozambique); Chawanangwa Kaonga (Zanaco FC-Zambia); Lanjesi Nkhoma & Patrick Mwaungulu (Don Bosco-DRC) and strikers Richard Mbulu & Lloyd Njaliwa (Costa Do Sol-Mozambique).
The domestic league players are:
Goalkeepers: William Thole (Mighty Wanderers), George Chikooka (Silver Strikers) and Richard Chimbamba (Nyasa Big Bullets);
Defenders: McDonald Lameck, Maxwell Paipi & Nickson Mwase (all Silver Strikers), Gomezgani Chirwa, Nickson Nyasulu & Alick Lungu (Nyasa Big Bullets), Timothy Silwimba (Mighty Wanderers);
Midfielders: Yankho Singo, Lloyd Aaron (Nyasa Big Bullets), Wisdom Mpinganjira (Mighty Wanderers), Zebron Kalima (Silver Strikers);
Strikers: Gaddi Chirwa (Mighty Wanderers), Zeliat Nkhoma (Kamuzu Barracks).
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