It was 20 years ago when Malawi last reached the Cosafa Cup final but, this afternoon, the Flames have an opportunity to write another piece of history when they face Lesotho in a 2023 HollywoodBets Cosafa Cup semi-final at King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban, South Africa.
Malawi will be hoping to appear in a Cosafa Cup final for the third time since the tournament was introduced in 1997.
They reached the final twice in 2002 and 2003 but lost on both occasions to South Africa and Zimbabwe, respectively.
Lesotho last qualified for the final in 2000, losing 6-0 to Zimbabwe on aggregate.
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Some 20 years down the line, there is renewed hope in the Flames camp after an impressive start to the regional competition in which the team registered three straight victories, scoring five goals without conceding.
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Malawi started the competition with a 1-0 win over defending champions Zambia before 2-0 victories over Seychelles and Comoros.
The stakes in this afternoon’s match are evidently high as apart from a place in the final, the Flames have a score to settle against Lesotho who beat them 2-1 during the group stages of the 2022 edition.
Again, the odds are stacked against the Flames who have never won against Lesotho in five consecutive games in all competitions.
The two teams drew 1-1 in 2017, 2019 and in February this year before Lesotho beat Malawi 1-0 in a practice match at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.
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Lesotho also knocked the Flames out of the Cosafa Cup after beating them 1-0 in 2016. Then, it was Lesotho’s first win over the Flames in 36 years in all competitions.
The two teams also met during the 2005 and 2008 Cosafa Cup in with the Flames winning on both encounters.
Heading into the match, the two teams are separated by 26 places on Fifa rankings with the Flames on position 126 in the world whereas Lesotho are 152nd.
Flames interim coach Patrick Mabedi said he knows the importance of the match.
“Reaching the semi-finals of the cup is motivating in itself to the players. There is always a season for everything. We came here to improve their game and also give them exposure. The youngsters are excited to reach the semifinals and they want to make history,” Mabedi said.
Goalkeeper Brighton Munthali, who has kept three clean sheets, is expected to start with the back four of captain Stanley Sanudi, Nixon Mwase, Dennis Chembezi and Alick Lungu likely to be given the nod.
Impressive defending midfielder Lloyd Aaron, Chimwemwe Idana, Patrick Mwaungulu and Chawanangwa Kaonga will also keep their places, with Christopher Kumwembe and Lanjesi Nkhoma leading the attack.
Former Flames defender Charles Manda, who is based in Lesotho, has tipped the Flames on Lesotho’s weaknesses.
“We need to utilise our chances. Lesotho are prone to mistakes, especially at the back. Malawi will also do better by persistently sending crosses into the box,” Manda said.
