Flames succumb to one Chipolopolo

Malawi national football team suffered a 1-0 loss to Zambia in a friendly played at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia, Thursday.

Collins Sikombe scored after 21 minutes to hand his side the narrow victory. Sikombe shot past Malawi goalkeeper Brighton Munthali after receiving a pass from Jimmy Ndhlovu.

The two teams used the match to fine-tune for their respective Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers. The Flames travel to Ouagadougou for a showdown against Burkina Faso on March 26 before welcoming the West Africans at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre three days later.

Both sides featured homebased players in the strengthtesting match. Flames assistant Coach Lovemore Fazili took charge of the team as Coach Meck

Mwase is in The Netherlands. The Flames are third in Group B of the Afcon qualifiers with three points from two games. Malawi started the qualifiers with a 1-0 beating of South Sudan at Kamuzu Stadium but lost 2-0 to Uganda in Kampala in the second match.

Uganda lead the group with four points from two games.

Flames starting lineup-

Munthali, Stanley

Sanudi, Peter Cholopi,

Precious Sambani, Nickson

Nyasulu, Chimango Kaira,

Chimwemwe Idana, Chikoti

Chirwa, Micium Mhone, Peter

Banda, Hassan Kajoke.