Obviously, the Flames have been thrown into a lion’s den in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers having been drawn against heavyweights Senegal and Burkina Faso, alongside Burundi, in Group L.
It will take guts and grit for the Flames to book a ticket to next year’s continental finals.
Nevertheless, Malawi National Football Team Coach Patrick Mabedi and some former Flames players have called for thorough preparations for the upcoming 2025 Afcon qualifiers to stand any chance of making it to the finals.
Mabedi and ex-Flames players were reacting to the 2025 Afcon draw which pitted also the Flames against giants Senegal, Burkina Faso and Burundi in Group L of the qualifiers.
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The Flames gaffer, who is under intense pressure following the team’s underwhelming campaign in both the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers and the Four Nations Tournament, admitted that it will require more than hard work to qualify.
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“We are in a tough group with very good teams as they often qualify for the finals. We need to work hard and dig deeper so that we can overcome them. It is a tough group but anything can best you become the best. happen. If you compete with the
“Malawi and Burundi, are the underdogs but we cannot run away from them but face them. They need to be careful because we can hurt them. We are also preparing and making sure that we are planning well,” Mabedi said.
The qualifiers are expected to start in September and end in November this year.
This means teams will play six matches in a space of three months.
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Former Flames defender Elvis Kafoteka, who was part of the squad during the 2010 Afcon finals in Angola, said good preparations and determination could be key in the qualifiers.
“I think it is a very good draw for us. I believe it will motivate our boys to rise to the occasion and good preparations and very strong friendly matches can help.
“I think it is 50-50. It is up to us to have good preparations and a good plan to win all home matches and frustrate them away and we will be good to go,” the former Extreme FC coach said.
Two teams from each of the 11 groups, excluding Morocco, will advance to the finals. Morocco already qualified as hosts.
On his part, former Flames assistant coach Lovemore Fazili echoed Kafoteka’s sentiments.
“Chances are 100 percent depending on good preparations which the FA is going to give to the Flames without excuses. We played Senegal and Burkina Faso in the same competition so there is no need to panic,” Fazili, who was part of the Flames technical panel alongside Meck Mwase that guided the team to round of 16 in 2022, said.
Immediate past Flames captain Limbikani Mzava said the team should not be underrated.
“We need to win all home matches to have chances of qualifying for the Afcon finals. It is possible to do that. Away games are tricky but we can get some points,” Mzava said.
The Flames missed qualification to the 2023 Afcon finals in Ivory Coast.
However, the Flames qualified for the Afcon finals in 1984, 2010 and 2021.
Fam Competitions and Communications Director Gomezgani Zakazaka said after the draw, the association will start preparing for the upcoming matches.
“It is going to be a tough journey for Malawi and we need to prepare well for us to qualify,” Zakazaka said.
Caf is yet to release the fixtures for the qualifiers.
