Malawi National Football Team, the Flames, suffered their second consecutive defeat in the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers after suffering a 3-1 loss to Burkina Faso at Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako, Mali, Tuesday night.
The Flames were hoping for a quick response against Burkina Faso after suffering a 3-2 loss to Burundi on Thursday.
However, the Stallions of Burkina Faso, who are ranked 67th in the world, made life difficult for the Flames.
The loss to Burkina Faso has reduced Malawi’s chances in Group L, such that they need a miracle in the remaining four games of the qualifiers to turn the tables around.
This means the Flames are bottom in Group L. They are without a point in two opening matches of the qualifiers.
On the other hand, Burkina Faso moved top of the group with four points following the victory over Malawi.
Senegal, who claimed a 1- 0 victory over Burundi at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe, are second in the group with the same number of points. The Swallows of Burundi are third with three points from two matches.
Franck Lassine Traore scored a brace in a duration of three minutes in the first half to secure the vital win. Traore opened the scoring in the 34th minute of the match before he completed his brace in the 37th minute.
Just like in the first game against Burundi, the Flames’ defence was caught napping.
After the break, Chifundo Mphasi paved the way for Zeliati Nkhoma. The hosts increased the lead from the penalty spot in the 60th minute after Flam Hassane Bande scored the third goal, sending goalkeeper George Chikooka the wrong way.
Sensing danger, Flames coach Patrick Mabedi made a double substitution when he introduced Robert Saizi and Wisdom Mpinganjira for Yamikani Chester and Lanjesi Nkhoma.
The changes brought some life into Flames attack. Substitute Nkhoma pulled a goal back for Malawi with 11 minutes to full time.
Nkhoma scored his first goal for the Flames after fine work from Mpinganjira but it was too little too late.
Mabedi made one change to the side that lost 3-2 to Burundi at home.
Defender Chaziya started ahead of Gomezgani Chirwa.
The Flames will face Senegal in back-to-back fixtures next month.
Malawi will travel to Senegal for Match Day three on October 7 before hosting Senegal on October 15 at BNS.
Meanwhile, the Flames had a rude awakening when their passports went missing on Monday before their Group L clash in Mali.
However, pressure eased after the passports were found just hours before the game Tuesday.
According to Football Association of Malawi (Fam) General Secretary Alfred Gunda, the passports went missing after one of the officials (name withheld) forgot a bag in a taxi he was travelling in.
“The official used a taxi to get the necessities of the team as the team was heading for training. The ice was for training use.
“The taxi driver who was knocking off did not notice the bag until later today morning [Tuesday morning] when he started his work and went back to the stadium to look for the owners since they did not exchange contacts. Virtually, the driver returned the bag with all its contents intact,” Gunda explained.
Times Sport established that the Fam official used a taxi instead of team bus due to congestion in Bamako.
However, leader of delegation Patrick Kapanga, who is a Fam executive committee member, was not readily available for his comment.
Flames line up: Chikooka, Sanudi, Mwase, Chaziya, Chembezi, Aaron, Chimwemwe Idana, Yamikani Chester, Chawanangwa Kaonga, Lanjesi Nkhoma, Chifundo Mphasi.
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