The Flames yesterday ended Lesotho Likuena’s 16-year dominance with a narrow 1-0 victory in an international friendly at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Malawi took a deserved lead into the break through US-based striker Malango Mayere after an energetic first-half display in a match that kicked off 30 minutes late again due to a thunderstorm.
Flames coach Kalisto Pasuwa said, in a post-match interview, he was happy with the improved performance, but was quick to add that it was not good enough.
“You know, with football, it’s a win today, then tomorrow you start again to click your head and people are not kind to you the moment you go on the other side of it,” he said.
“So, we need to be strong in whatever we do as coaches. But again, yes, it was a good game that we played against our opponents.”
Once the game eventually started at 16:30, the Flames settled quickly, showing strong intent and control in the early exchanges.
Within the opening 10 minutes, Malawi pushed forward with good tempo, pressing Lesotho’s backline and looking to seize the initiative.
The breakthrough arrived in the 25th minute. A long, high ball from centre-back Charles Petro into the final third, caused confusion in Lesotho defence.
FCB Nyasa Bullets’ forward Babatunde Adepoju reacted quickest to the loose ball, flicking it into space for Lloyd Aaron, who showed great pace to latch onto it.
The Qatar-based midfielder’s low, well-weighted pass across the box found Malango, who calmly tapped it in for his first international goal.
Malawi continued to push for a second. In the 40th minute Chikumbutso Salima produced a brilliant moment of individual skill, dribbling past his marker and cutting inside.
The ball took a slight deflection off Lesotho defender, falling kindly to Malango, but the striker’s effort sailed over the bar.
Babatunde also saw his long-range shot bounce off the cross bar in the 76th minute.
Despite the narrow win, Malawi were the better side throughout the match.
Unlike in the first intentional match played on Saturday, the Flames were more purposeful in possession and quicker in transition while Lesotho struggled to create meaningful chances.
Flames coach Kallisto Pasuwa made some changes to the squad that played in the first friendly.
Captain Frank Gabadiho Mhango, Patrick Mwaungulu, Lloyd Njaliwa, MacDonald Lameck, Yankho Singo, Chifundo Mphasi and Uchizi Vunga did not make the starting XI while injured Alick Lungu was not on the bench
