Malawi football poster boy Gabadinho Mhango leads the Flames’ hunt for glory at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Thursday, March 20, 2025, when lining up against Namibia, who gifted him a debut international goal over a decade ago.
On March 23, 2013, Mhango, then a teen sensation, scored his first goal, in the 69th minute after replacing Atusaye Nyondo, for the Flames when they beat the Brave Warriors 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier at Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek.
A lot has changed since 12 years ago, but what has not changed is the Flames’ overreliance on the Marumo Gallants’ seasoned striker for goals.
Former coach Patrick Mabedi, who was in charge in a caretaker capacity in Windhoek in 2013, committed career suicide by discarding the former Orlando Pirates attacker last year with disastrous consequences leading to the exit of the coach.
Real test for unbeaten Pasuwa
New man in charge Kalisto Pasuwa quickly rectified this flaw by recalling Mhango who responded by opening the door to a 3-0 win over Burundi in a dead-rubber AFCON qualifier which acted as among the auditions for the Zimbabwean’s full-time job offer.
The former FCB Nyasa Big Bullets boss has presided over three wins in four games in all competitions, two as a caretaker, but you get a sense that the real business starts today against difficult opponents in Namibia who have serial scorer Peter Shalulile in their ranks.
Earlier, Namibia coach Colin Benjamin highlighted the importance of winning the two games starting with the Flames.
“We are going to go all the way in the upcoming fixtures and the squad is a reflection of our desire to produce good results. The squad balances experience and youth, with key returns of a few players. It is essential that we have a successful outcome that will be a huge step into the next step,” he said.
Head-to-Head
Malawi and Namibia have met 15 times across all competitions with the Brave Warriors having an upper hand, winning seven games versus four for Pasuwa’s side while four games ended in draws.
The Namibians, who also host Equatorial Guinea in Polokwane, South Africa on March 24, face a tough challenge in Group H whose leaders are Tunisia.
Mhango led the Flames to victory in a Group F contest on March 23, 2013, and now he has Group H business to sort out.
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