Flames coach Kallisto Pasuwa has admitted that qualification for the 2026 Fifa World Cup is a far-fetched dream, but says they will still fight for positive results in the remaining matches.
Malawi on Monday lost 2-0 to Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles in a late kick-off, hours after Namibia and Equatorial Guinea drew one-all and Liberia had beaten Sao Tome and Principe 2-1.
The results mean Malawi slipped to fifth in the six-member group while Tunisia lead with 16 points and are a victory away from qualification to the final to be held in three countries; the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Namibia’s Brave Warriors on second with 12 points, are in pole-position to compete with three other best runners-up to fight for the last two slots against teams from other Fifa confederations.
Liberia are third with 10 points while fourth-placed Equatorial Guinea have eight points. Sao Tome and Principe anchor the group with no point.
With six qualifiers played and four remaining, the Flames have six points from victories over Liberia and Sao Tome and Principe as wells as losses to Tunisia (twice), Namibia and Equatorial Guinea.
In a post-match interview after Tunisia’s defeat, Pasuwa admitted that qualification to the final would be a miracle.
He, however, said they will fight on in the remaining matches against Equatorial Guinea (home), Liberia (home), Sao Tome (away) and Namibia (away).
Said Pasuwa: “It’s our wish as coaches, to do well even if it’s a match that you may say there is no reason to fight for. We still need results on the table.
“These matches can make us see where we are as Malawi as we play against African giants and, as coaches, on the performance of the players. With those games coming, we hope we will also try more players.”
During the match, Pasuwa made five changes to the squad that lost to Namibia.
Striker Chawanangwa Kawonga started in the absence of injured Frank Gabadinho Mhango while Nickson Mwase started in place of injured Charles Petro.
Wisdom Mpinganjira, Patrick Mwaungulu and Yankho Singo were also benched as Pasuwa opted for captain John CJ Banda, Lloyd Njaliwa and McDonald Lameck.
For the good part of the match, Malawi matched the hosts pound-for-pound, only to lose the plot towards the dying minutes of the match after Lloyd Aaron was sent off in the 65th minute following a second yellow card.
The hosts scored in quick succession in the 86th and 90th minutes through Seifeddine Jaziri and Elias Achouri.
Flames striker Richard Mbulu failed to reduce the deficit as he saw his penalty saved by Tunisia goalkeeper in the 96th minute.
Pasuwa blamed the last gasp goals on a number of factors, including poor decisions by the referee.
He said: “We played well the first 45 minutes. We were solid in terms of frustrating these guys. They couldn’t manage to break us. We did well defensively and we had some chances also that we could have taken the lead in the first-half, but unfortunately we couldn’t.
“After the red card, we went all the way maybe to 85 minutes where they were very solid again. We wanted to catch them on the brake, but the numbers couldn’t allow us to do that.
“We conceded in the 85th, 90th minutes. But I thought that goal, it was an offside. Then the second goal, same thing again, a soft penalty, diving in the box.”
But the Zimbabwean tactician said that despite the loss, he was impressed with the team’s performance, adding that Tunisia, ranked 52, are a top side way above Malawi ranked 126.
Said Pasuwa: “All I can say is that although we conceded two goals, you could see we were very solid in terms of trying to shut dwon these guys in the first minutes. And also, we had some moments that we were playing beautiful football. I think with time we’ll do better.
“It’s not easy to play those guys. They are technically and tactically sound. It’s a team that is full of guys who play in Europe, and most of our guys play locally and some of them in Mozambique. They did very well in matching them, although we had some areas that we still need to work on.”
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Fleetwood Haiya also held the same views on the team’s performance.
He said: “Heads high, boys. You showed heart, unity, and relentless spirit out there—even when the odds were against you.
“That kind of fight can’t be taught. The result doesn’t define you, the resilience does. Keep pushing. We’re with you all the way. Stronger together.”
