By Happy Milanzie

Lilongwe, March 20, Mana: The Malawi national football team, the Flames, lost three crucial points on Thursday in their World Cup qualifiers match against Namibia at Bingu National Stadium after suffering a 1-0 defeat during the first half.

The Flames dominated the first half of the game, but a goal by Prins Menelik in the 40th minute undermined their efforts and put Namibia in the lead.

Assistant coach of the Flames, Peter Mponda, expressed disappointment over the defeat, despite the team's improved performance in the second half.

"Despite the loss, the Flames played well. As a team, we are going to strategize for the upcoming games. The players have shown us that the Flames have a bright future," Mponda said.

He noted that the players worked hard in the second half to secure an equalizer but struggled to create chances, unlike Namibia, who made the most of their opportunity in the first half.

Mponda highlighted that Malawi still has many opportunities in the qualifiers, with several games yet to be played.

The Flames are scheduled to face Tunisia in an away match on March 24, 2025.

Malawi currently has 6 points, having won two games and lost three, while Namibia leads with 11 points from three wins and two draws.

Malawi is part of Group H, alongside Tunisia, Namibia, Liberia, Equatorial Guinea, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Meanwhile, sports analyst Chipiliro Mulura observed that while the game was overall well-played, the central midfield posed a significant challenge for the Flames.

"The Flames struggled to dominate the central midfield, allowing opponents to control the ball and often be first to key plays. This made the match particularly challenging for the team," he said.

Mulura emphasized that the coordination between local and professional players was impressive, and the team shows promise for progress in future games.