The Malawi National Football Team go into this evening’s match against Liberia’s Lone Star at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe looking to build on their impressive 2-1 win over Namibia in a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier.
Friday’s impressive performance against the Brave Warriors of Namibia in Botswana, which ended their seven-match unbeaten run in the campaign, restored confidence in Kallisto Pasuwa’s charges.
While automatic qualification is beyond Malawi’s reach, the Zimbabwean tactician insists the team is focused on winning games and building a competitive side ahead of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.
The Flames will target a double over Liberia, having beaten the Lone Star away in Monrovia earlier in the campaign under immediate-past coach Patrick Mabedi.
Playing at home in front of their passionate supporters offers an extra motivation for the Flames.
Pasuwa is expected to keep faith in the same line-up that overcame Namibia, with goal-scorers Gabadinho Mhango and Richard Mbulu leading the attack.
Speaking in a pre-match interview, the coach urged more players to adopt Mhango and Mbulu’s aggressive and goal-hungry instinct in front of goal.
“We are not underating Liberia and this is what I have told the players. Of course, we are in a tricky situation since we are in the process of building a team that has to win games,” he said.
Pasuwa added that his charges have trained enough to face Liberia, despite the fact that some players are being assesed following injuries sustained during the Namibia game on Friday in Botswana.
“At the moment, Llyod Njaliwa, William Thole and Richard Mbulu are just okay and ready for the encounter,” said Pasuwa.
He, however, said Yankho Singo is ruled out for the game as he is not feeling well.
After match day eight, the battle in Group H qualification could all but be over.
North African giants Tunisia will have already sealed top spot and direct qualification with their unassailable 19 points, unbeaten and with a clean sheet.
It is the battle for the second place and a potential play-off slot among four best runners-up from the groups that remains open.
However, Malawi’s chances in this contest are still slim despite the win over Namibia.
With nine points and fifth on the table, victory over Liberia is a must, but the Flames will be praying that Namibia, who face Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea who take on Sao Tome, drop points.
Namibia on second position with 12 points are favourites for the runners-up slot, but they visit high-flying Tunisia in their toughest outing.
On the other hand, Liberia, who are tied on 10 points with Equatorial Guinea, also remain in contention for the second spot as they face Malawi.
Equatorial Guinea, who face bottom-placed Sao Tome who have so far failed to collect a point, are poised to collect full points.
But Pasuwa sees the bigger picture beyond points.
The coach has set his sights on building a team for the future.
In the match this evening, he has the support of home fans who now have confidence in the Flames and are expected to turn up in large numbers.
