By Charles Nkhoma

Lilongwe, November 12, Mana: The Malawi national football team has travelled to Côte d'Ivoire to face Burundi in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier for Group L with Zimbabwean Calisto Pasuwa heading the technical team on an interim basis.

Pasuwa, a proven coach with recent successes at FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, is joined by Peter Mponda and Prichard Mwansa as assistant coaches.

Both are well-respected in Malawian football, with Mponda leading Silver Strikers to second place in the Airtel Top 8 and currently topping league standings.

The new technical staff aims to address the Flames’ challenges in Group L, where they have yet to secure a win or a point.

Pasuwa steps into the role following the dismissal of Patrick Mabedi, whose tenure ended due to a string of losses, including back-to-back defeats against Senegal and a loss against Burundi in the first leg.

Expectations are high, with Malawians eager to see if the fresh leadership can deliver the Flames' first win in the group stage. In Lilongwe, local fans have expressed both hope and caution.

Alex Chimphanda, a vendor in the city, remarked, “regardless of Thursday's outcome, we should give this new panel enough time. Each member has shown their quality with their respective clubs."

Echoing this sentiment, a local bus driver, Pachalo Tembo, commented, “there’s hope in this panel. Pasuwa has done well, even winning the Airtel Top 8 despite a challenging season in 2024."

With faith in Pasuwa’s leadership and the abilities of his assistant coaches, many Malawians are watching closely, hoping this new technical panel can bring long-awaited success and renew hope for the future of Malawian football.

The question remains whether this team can provide the breakthrough that fans are longing for. Only time will tell.