Malawi National Football Team, the Flames yesterday flew to Botswana ready to battle the Brave Warriors of Namibia in tomorrow’s Group H 2026 World Cup qualifier set for Francistown.
US-based forward Mayele Malango has made the trip but FCB Nyasa Bullets striker Babatunde Adepoju is not with the squad due to lack of passport.
The two players, who were recently granted Certificate of Conferment of Citizenship of Malawi, were part of Pasuwa’s 26-strong squad.
However, Babatunde, who got an eleventh hour call up, has been ruled out following a delay in issuing him a Malawian passport for the qualifier to be staged in Botswana.
The game is to be played in Botswana because the Brave Warriors’ stadia did not meet CAF requirements.
Nevertheless, Pasuwa still has 15 foreign-based players, namely Democratic Republic of Congo’s TP Mazembe duo of Patrick Mwaungulu and Lanjesi Nkhoma, Henri Kumwenda of USA’s Butler Men’s Soccer FC, South Africa-based Gabadinho Mhango (Richards Bay), Mozambique-based duo of Costa Do Sol’s Richard Mbulu and Lloyd Njaliwa, Zimbabwe trio of Simba Bhora goalkeeper William Thole, FC Platinum’s Nickson Nyasulu and Gomezgani Chirwa (Ngezi Platinum), Iraq-based Dennis Chembezi (Al Qasim FC), Japan-based Washali Jaziya (Nankatsu FC), Zambia-based Zanaco duo of Chawanangwa Kawonga and Robert Saizi.
Qatar-based Lloyd Aaron, who recently signed for Muaither SC, is also part of the travelling squad although he is suspended for the Namibia tie.
On the other hand, Ekhaya FC goalkeeper Joshua Waka is the only player dropped from the squad as Pasuwa preferred Thole and Silver Strikers’ George Chikooka.
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The Flames are out of contention in the group which also has Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe as well as Tunisia.
The Carthage Eagles lead the pool with 16 points followed by Brave warriors with 12. Lone Star are third with 10 points, Equatorial Guinea are fourth with seven and the Flames fifth with six. São Tomé and Príncipe sit at the bottom with no points.
But Pasuwa, in an interview, said they will go flat out to collect full points in Francistown.
He said: “Remember, we have been talking of building a team. So, in building a team, at times, you need results.
Pasuwa also lauded Malango, Jaziya and Kumwenda who were having a feel of his style of play for the first time.
He said: “So far so good. They are doing well.”
The Zimbabwean tactician admitted that for the first time he is spoiled of choice after registering 100 percent turnout.
“I sat down with senior guys, the captain and I talked to them to say, it’s not all about the coach. It starts from them also.”
But despite having his best arsenal, Pasuwa said he would not rush to dismantle what he had already built.
Meanwhile, Flames top scorer Mhango said they will be out to revenge the 1-0 loss to Namibia in the first leg.
He said: “First of all, thanks for the opportunity again to be back in the National Team. I think everyone is ready and pushing to be in good form.
“I know we lost to Namibia in the first leg. We know our mistakes from the previous game. I think this time we need to turn it around because we saw what was our mistake.
“We saw what was good and so I think we take it from the positive way to go forward. The boys are not scared.”
Mhango also hailed Pasuwa for bringing in US-based Malango and Kumwenda.
