Sports analyst Kelvin Moyo believes the 23-man squad that Flames interim coach Calisto Pasuwa has named has the potential to bring forth a good result against Burundi on Thursday at Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Pasuwa has included Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango, Gaddie Chirwa and Richard Mbulu, among others. He has dropped Zeliati Nkhoma and Timothy Silwimba.
Moyo said the coach has listed the best players on the land.
“A win or a draw is what is expected because we have not had one. Although we are already out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers, the result can bring confidence in the players,” he said.
On Monday, Pasuwa said he called up the players to help build a team worth playing on the international stage.
“We had little time with the players, but I told them the reason why they were called for the national team,” he said.
Local-based Flames players will spend a night in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before proceeding to Ivory Coast on Wednesday morning while foreign-based players are travelling directly to Abidjan from their respective bases.
Malawi, currently last in Group L with no point, and Burundi, third with 3 points, have both been knocked out of the Qualifiers.
Senegal and Burkina Faso, each with 10 points and separated by goal difference, have qualified for the next stage.
On Monday, the Flames will play their final game against Burkina Faso at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
