Flames top Group B

Malawi National Football Team, the Flames, have taken an early lead in Group B of the 2027 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers following their opening-day victory over South Sudan and a draw between Egypt and Angola.

The Flames beat South Sudan 2-1 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe through goals from Babatunde Adepoju and Lloyd Njaliwa on Friday while Egypt and Angola played out a goalless draw.

Fans enjoying Malawi match against South Sudan on Friday evening. | Courtesy of FAM

The results leave Malawi top of the group with three points, ahead of Egypt and Angola, who have a point each, while South Sudan are bottom without a point.

Malawi will now travel to Angola on October 6.

A victory would strengthen the Flames’ position in the race for a place at the finals, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in 2027.

However, head coach Kallisto Pasuwa has acknowledged that his charges need to improve their performance despite securing maximum points.

Pasuwa in an interview said the team started brightly, but lost its tempo after scoring, allowing South Sudan to gain possession and put the hosts under pressure.

“A game that we started very well, maybe in the first 10, 15 minutes, and also then we dropped the tempo after scoring. In the last 15 minutes, we came back again,” he said.

The coach said the team also struggled to manage its lead, a concern he wants to address as the qualifiers progress.

The also attributed the problem partly to lapses in concentration and the tendency to retreat into defence when ahead.

“We gave them too much possession, and we were dropping, as well, sitting in our defence. Then also, maybe some of the mistakes at times that we do when we are leading.

“Carrying a 1-0 lead, we can’t manage it. Then we concede some goals which are not supposed to be conceded.

“So we need to rectify that. Every time when we are leading, we need to keep the leads in order for us to be winning games. But I think it’s the mentality part of it, where we’ll keep on working with the players,” he said.

Pasuwa also admitted that the quality of play was below expectations, but said the team would improve as the campaign progresses.

“The play wasn’t good. It’s a thing that we saw coming because it’s the first game. But we will improve,” he said.

The coach also defended his decision not to introduce United States-based forward Mayele Malango, saying some players arrived shortly before the match and had not trained sufficiently with the squad.

“A coach will have to choose players that he thinks can do the job for him. Some of the players they wanted me to introduce, they didn’t train with us. They only came a day before the match, and you can’t see someone and say whether he’s fit or not in a day,” he said.

Meanwhile, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Fleetwood Haiya has congratulated the Flames, describing the opening victory as a morale booster.

In a statement, Haiya said the team had shown persistence and determination against a resilient South Sudan side.

“It was a tough match against a resilient and organised side but the boys’ persistence and desire to win made it possible,” he said.

Haiya also thanked supporters who braved the evening cold to cheer the team, urging the Flames to build on the result.

He said: “As we continue the journey, we hope that the team will use this victory as a launching pad for more success. Let’s keep the momentum.”

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