The Flames have moved to third position in the 2027 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon)Qualifiers Group B after suffering a 3-1 defeat away to Angola’s Palancas Negras last evening at Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda.
Head coach Kallisto Pasuwa made just one change to the Malawi National Football Team side that defeated South Sudan 2-1 in Lilongwe, bringing in defender Gomezgani Chirwa into the starting XI in place of forward Chifundo Mphasi.
The change gave the Flames a more defensive look, but Angola needed only two minutes to expose Malawi’s vulnerability.
Felício Milson finished from close range after a swift counter-attack, with Zito Luvumbo providing the assist to give the hosts an early lead in the match monitored on SuperSport.
Malawi struggled to create clear chances, but gradually grew into the game. Mighty Wanderers forward Gaddie Chirwa produced the Flames’ first meaningful effort in the 25th minute, only for his shot to be blocked for a corner.
Eight minutes later, Lloyd Njaliwa registered Malawi’s first shot on target, although his effort lacked power and was comfortably collected by the Angola goalkeeper.
The hosts doubled their advantage in the 37th minute when captain Agostinho Cristovao Paciencia, commonly known as Mabululu, rose to head in a cross from a short corner.
The Flames, however, were handed a lifeline just before half-time when Gaspar Kialonda turned Democratic Republic of Congo’s TP Mazembe midfielder Patrick Mwaungulu’s free-kick into his own net.
Malawi went into the break trailing 2-1 and Pasuwa responded with a double change, introducing Yankho Singo for Blessings Singini and Mayele Malango for MacDonald Lameck.
The Flames looked more threatening after the restart and came close to an equaliser in the 61st minute.
Mwaungulu did the groundwork on the right before delivering into the box, where Babatunde Adepoju met the opportunity, only for his effort to strike the post.
That miss proved costly as Angola restored their two-goal advantage in the 71st minute.
Valdemiro Pinto Domingos punished a defensive lapse, with the Malawi backline caught flat-footed as the Angolan forward rose to head past goalkeeper William Thole.
Pasuwa made another double substitution six minutes later, withdrawing Mwaungulu and Chirwa for Francisco Madinga and Richard Mbulu respectively.
But the Flames could not find a way back into the contest as Angola, coached by Senegal legend Aliou Cisse, held on for a 3-1 victory.
