The Malawi National Football Team, the Flames, is all but out of the 2025 Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup following a goal-less stalemate with Namibia at DR Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Sunday.
Following the draw, the Flames are bottom of Group B with one point from two matches, three points behind leaders Angola, who thumped Lesotho 4-0 in another match.
Malawi meet Angola in their final Group B match but a win will not be enough for the Flames to qualify for the semi-finals as Lesotho can eliminate Malawi on head-to-head if they share the spoils with Namibia.
Lesotho beat the Flames 1-0 in the opener on Thursday.
As things stand, three teams—Angola, Lesotho and Namibia—have realistic chances of qualifying for the semi-finals.
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Namibia can book a place in the last four with a victory over Lesotho on Tuesday.
Only group winners will advance to the semifinals of the tournament.
In Sunday’s match, Flames coach Kalisto Pasuwa made several changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Lesotho on Thursday.
Captain Maxwell Paipi missed the match due to injury whereas Timothy Silwimba, Zeliati Nkhoma and Wongani Lungu were relegated to the bench.
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Emmanuel Nyirenda, Gaddie Chirwa, Blessings Singini and Promise Kamwendo were thrown straight into the fray.
It was an improved performance from the Flames, as they were able to create chances.
They, however, lacked composure upfront.
Winger Chikumbutso Salima fluffed a glorious scoring opportunity when he shot straight into the palms of Namibian goalkeeper Kamaijanda Ndisiro from close range in the 30th minute.
On the other hand, Flames goalkeeper George Chikooka kept his side in the match when he made a crucial save.
In the second half, Kamwendo also missed another chance before Chawanangwa Gumbo wasted another one towards the end of the match.
Winger and captain Wisdom Mpinganjira was named player-of-the-match.
After the match, Flames assistant coach Peter Mponda cut a frustrated figure.
“We have a small chance in the competition and we are still there. We have given ourselves a chance to be in the competition,” Mponda said.
Mponda said the Flames deserved to win the match.
“We were a better team but, unfortunately, we did not take our chances. We gave everything and I am proud of the boys,” he said.
The Flames last reached the Cosafa Cup semi-finals in 2023 when they won all the three group stage matches.
