Sports analyst Dan Chemis has urged Flames coach Kalisto Pasuwa to use Malawi’s remaining two matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers to identify players who can help the team qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
On Thursday, Malawi will take on Equatorial Guinea at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe and on Monday, 13 October, the Flames will visit São Tomé and Príncipe at Sousse Olympic Stadium, in Tunisia.
Both Malawi and Equatorial Guinea have 10 points from eight games, but Malawi sit fourth on the table due to a better goal difference (-1) compared to Equatorial Guinea’s (-4), who are in fifth place.
Overall, Tunisia have already secured qualification with 22 points. Namibia are second with 15 points, followed by Liberia in third with 11 points. São Tomé and Príncipe remain bottom of the group with no points.
This means teams from Namibia to Equatorial Guinea can no longer qualify directly but still have a chance to progress to the second round, depending on their final results.
Chemis believes the team should focus on long-term development rather than qualification hopes.
“If you look at these qualifiers, I do not think we can qualify. But Pasuwa should be using these games to come up with a good squad that can qualify for the 2027 AFCON. Remember that is the target that was set for him by the Football Association of Malawi,” Chemis said.
Pasuwa added FCB Nyasa Big Bullets’ talisman, Babatunde Adepoju, to the Flames squad after he had maintained 24 of the 26 players who featured in last month’s FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Namibia and Liberia. This follows his successful nationality switch from Nigeria.
“Baba only had two days of practice, as most of the players were not around. So he has to be tactical in terms of approach and we have been working on his positioning and he is coping well. We will see if he will be given a game,” the coach said.
Adepoju said he will try his best to help the team as the game is important due to the FIFA rankings that are at stake.
“Getting the three points is going to give the confidence and boost us for the upcoming qualifiers.,” he said.
Flames Captain, Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango, who will not feature in Thursday’s game, encouraged Adepoju ahead of his debut.
“He has been playing in Malawi for so long. I told him to be himself because he is now part of the family. Sometimes people feel scared when they play for the national team,” Mhango said.
Chemis said the striker will fit well in Pasuwa’s system.
“We can see him alongside Richard Mbulu or Mayele Malango,” he said.
Pasuwa also added Jibril Okedina, who plays for Bohemian F.C. in Ireland, and he might have his first competitive appearance after he had featured in the Four Nations Tournament in March last year.
Malawi’s squad comprises 15 foreign-based and 11 home-based players.
Flames are coming from a 2-2 draw against Liberia as they managed to level the deficit after trailing 2-0 for more than 60 minutes.
Equatorial Guinea are coming from a 1-0 loss to at home against Tunisia.
