Kalisto Pasuwa (centre) drills the Flames: Image courtesy of FAM
Malawi interim coach Kalisto Pasuwa hopes the away goalless draw against Burundi in a dead-rubber 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Thursday can restore the Flames’ confidence. Pasuwa, holding fort after Patrick Mabedi’s dismissal a fortnight ago, said this in a post-match interview after the Group L qualifier played in Ivory Coast where the Flames picked their first point in five attempts.
“It is a good result for us considering that most of the guys didn’t train [together],” he said. “All that we wanted was to be solid without the ball and then, at times, we would try to catch the opponents on the break, but they defended well. It is a good result for a start.”
The Zimbabwean, who led his club FCB Nyasa Big Bullets to the Airtel Top 8 glory last Saturday, then dissected the game, citing areas where his charges did well and what went wrong against Burundi, who won the first-leg 3-2.
“I think it [the result] brings confidence to the boys who played and to everyone who is in the house. With this result, maybe, we can raise our heads and soldier on," the ex-Warriors mentor said.
Pasuwa added: "In the first half, as you saw it, we were having some problems with set-pieces, but again the boys stood tall…It was the transition from defence to attack which we were slow. Like I said, we didn't have much time to train so we will see when we go back home.”
The former Zimbabwe’s Dynamos FC gaffer tweaked the Flames squad with South Africa-based striker Gabadinho Mhango and Romania-based defender Charles Petro restored to the starting line-up against Burundi. Mhango’s return came after the Football Association of Malawi sacked Mabedi following four consecutive defeats that ended the Flames’ bid for a place at the next AFCON finals. Mabedi’s decision to sideline Mhango backfired after the Flames lost to Senegal (1-0 and 4-0), Burundi (2-3) and Burkina Faso (3-1).
Malawi will wind up their failed AFCON qualifying campaign by welcoming Burkina Faso, who won the first leg 3-1, at Bingu National Stadium Lilongwe on Tuesday. The Flames will then shift attention to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for Group H comprising leaders Tunisia, Liberia, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia and São Tomé and Príncipe. Pasuwa’s side is fourth in the standings with six points after beating Liberia 1-0, São Tomé 3-0 and losing 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea. Malawi next face Namibia at home in March 2025.
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