Malawi National Football Team ye s t e r d a y salvaged some pride after stunning Burkina Faso Stallions 3-0 in their last 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
South Africa-based Marumo Mhango, Mozambique-based Richard Mbulu and FCB Nyasa Bullets midfielder Lloyd Aaron scored for the Flame in their dead rubber match.Gallants striker Frank Gabadinho
Mhango, playing his second qualifier after his return to the Flames setup since March, fired home with his trademark long-range volley in the 28th minute from a Patrick Mwaungulu brilliant pass
Mbulu doubled the lead in the 57th minute, heading near the post a dipping cross from Aaron.
Then four minutes later, Aaron put the match beyond the visitors after intercepting a clearance in the penalty area which he calmly slotted home.
Though Burkina Faso already qualified for the Morocco final as the group’s runners-up to Senegal, they did not just seat on their laurels and handed the victory to the Flames.
The Burkinabe threw in everything to frustrate the Flames who were desperate to impress the home crowd after failing to win in five qualifiers.
But a changed Malawi side, straight from collecting their first point away against Burundi in Ivory Coast on Thursday, was up to the task in every department from the back through the midfield to the final third.
The defence of Charles Petro, who captained the side in the absence of suspended John CJ Banda, Nickson Mwase, Alick Lungu and Gomezgani Chirwa sealed all the loopholes at the back.
Flames goalkeeper William Thole was also in top form as he stopped five shots on target to keep a second clean sheet.
Bullets’ pair of Yankho Singo and Aaron combined well in central midfield while Democratic Republic of Congo based midfielder Mwaungulu, who provided the assist for Mhango and was also denied by the post, put up a grand performance.
But it was the experience of Mhango and Mbulu upfront that proved vital for interim coach Kallisto Pasuwa’s game-plan.
Three shots on target and three goals to finish the 2025 Afcon campaign with a consolation.
The result means Malawi have tied with Burundi on four points, but still sit at the bottom of the table on head-tohead as they lost to the Burundians at home.
The victory was the first for Malawi over Burkina Faso in eight meetings since 2009.
