The Malawi National Football Team, the Flames, will be on a double mission when they face the Swallows of Burundi in a 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, this evening.
While this evening’s match is a dead-rubber for both sides, the Flames will hope to redeem their pride, having been eliminated from the qualifiers following four consecutive defeats.
Additionally, the Flames will be looking to exact revenge, having lost 3-2 to Burundi at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe in September this year.
The Flames step onto the pitch with a battered reputation in the qualifiers as one of the three teams yet to register victory. Malawi will be looking for their first win against Burundi in all competitions since 1987.
Previous meetings between the two sides have favoured the Swallows after registering two victories and two draws. However, there is renewed hope in the Flames camp following the appointment of interim gaffer Kalisto Pasuwa.
Pasuwa has assembled all the available weapons ahead of the matches against Burundi and Burkina Faso.
The Zimbabwean has recalled striker Frank Gabadinho Mhango and defender Charles Petro.
Before departure, Pasuwa said despite being out of the Afcon qualifiers, he was looking for wins against Burundi and Burkina Faso.
We need to build a team that can compete on the international stage. For it to be a good team, we need to have confidence, hence these matches. We cannot just throw them away just because we are out. We need to push ourselves for us to do well,” he said on Tuesday.
Pasuwa has travelled with a 23-member squad which has three goalkeepers, namely William Thole, Richard Chimbamba and George Chikooka.
At the back, he has several options including Dennis Chembezi, Macdonald Lameck, Charles Petro and Nickson Mwase.
Captain John Banda will likely lead the midfield whereas Mhango and Richard Mbulu will lead the attack.
On the other hand, Burundi Coach Patrick Sangwa has assembled a good squad comprising Nice defender Youssouf Ndayishimiye, Al- Hilal star Jean Claude Girumugisha, Molkono Eldhino and Bienvenue Kanakimana.
Malawi will host Burkina Faso at Bingu National Stadium on Tuesday.
The Flames are bottom of Group L without a point whereas Burundi are third with three points.
Burkina Faso and Senegal have already qualified for the Afcon finals, to be staged in Morocco next year, with 10 points each. Burkina Faso will host Senegal in Bamako, Mali, tonight.
