Flames interim coach Kallisto Pasuwa has said the goalless draw against Burundi in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier on Thursday evening was good for a start.
It was the first point for the Malawi National Football Team which is out of contention, having lost all their previous four matches.
It was the first assignment for the the Zimbabwean tactician, who was appointed interim head coach following Football Association of Malawi (FAM) decision to terminate immediate-past coach Patrick Mabedi’s contract.
He said: “It [the result] brings confidence to the boys who played. With this result, we can raise our heads and soldier on.
“It is a good result considering that we didn’t train with most of the guys.”
He said the plan was to be solid when without the ball and catch the opponents on the break.
“In the first half, we were having problems on set-pieces, but the boys did well, they defended well and we had some chances.
“But it was the transition from the defence into attack that we had problems, but we’ll work on that when we return home.”
On his part, assistant coach Peter ‘Mjojo’ Mponda described it as a game of two halves.
He said: “In the first half, we did well. We dominated although our opponents were dangerous in set-pieces. In the second half, maybe because of the heat, slowed down and as a result, we were under pressure.
“But although we were under pressure, we were still able to create some chances.”
Mponda also said as coaches they were happy with the players’ effort.
“The performance was 50 percent which was understandable considering that we didn’t train with them,” he said.
The former Flames captain said in their last match against Burkina Faso, they will have no excuse as they have time to prepare.
Malawi anchor the Group L with a point, 12 behind leaders Senegal’s Lions of Teranga, who beat Burkina Faso’s Stallions 1-0 on Thursday night at the Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako, Mali.
Following the loss, the Burkinabes have dropped to second. They have 10 points going into their last match against the Flames on Monday at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
Burundi are third with four points earned against the Flames over two matches. They face Senegal in their last qualifier.
Senegal and Burkina Faso have already booked their slots at the continental showpiece to be hosted by Morocco.
