Malawi senior national football team coach Kalisto Pasuwa has warned his Flames that the going would be tough against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) final qualifying round.
Pasuwa issued the warning after Bafana Bafana recorded a 3-1 win in Egypt on Sunday to sail through to the final qualifying stage 4-1 on aggregate and date the Flames. Malawi dismissed Comoros 2-0 on Saturday and 4-0 on aggregate over two legs.
Video: Egypt 1-3 South Africa second leg goals
The Zimbabwean said the Flames should expect a more difficult challenge against Molefi Ntseki’s side; hence the need for the Malawians to step up their game.
“We knew before the game started that we were going to play one of the African football giants, so we are not even surprised. Remember, to be the best, we have to compete against the best,” Pasuwa said.
The former FCB Nyasa Big Bullets’ most decorated coach then hinted at a change in approach against Bafana Bafana, who boast stars such as Mamelodi Sundowns’ Neo Maema among the scorers at Suez Canal Stadium on Sunday.
The last meeting between Malawi and South Africa at the 2023 COSAFA Championship ended in favour of Bafana Bafana 5-3 on post-match penalties after a draw in regulation time, hence the ex-Dynamos boss’ plans to change tactical approach.
He said: “We will come up with something different in the next round because the games are different. It may be a change in the system, formation, or personnel. The game in South Africa will be different from the one here in Malawi, so we will consider changes, definitely.”
Second-half goals from FCB Nyasa Big Bullets midfielder Wongani Lungu and striker Binwell Katinji earned the Flames a place in the last qualifying round of CHAN which is exclusive to home-based players.
Video: Malawi 2-0 Comoros second leg
The first leg of the final qualifiers between Malawi and South Africa will take place on the weekend of May 2 while the return leg fixtures scheduled for May 10, 2025.
Malawi now shift attention to the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Namibia at Bingu National Stadium on March 20.
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