The Malawi national football team, the flames are optimistic that they will lay history at the 2025 Hollywood Bets COSAFA Cup.
The team left the country this morning for Bloemfontein in South Africa where it is expected to commence it’s campaign with Lesotho on June 5, 2025 at Toyota Stadium before facing Namibia 3 days later at Dr Petrus Molemela stadium.
Speaking before the departure, Flames First Assistant Coach Peter Mponda said the team is ambitious and fueled by hope and unyielding determination.
“We are very happy with the way things are going. We have tried to find the balance between giving exposure to some of the guys and also going to the tournament and trying to win it.
“It is very unfortunate that we have been participating since 1997 but we haven’t won it. We feel that we have taken a very good squad to take us to the semifinals and see what happens if we reach the finals. We we try make sure we win it, and bring the cup home,” said Mponda.
In an interview Ex – Flames Midlfielder Chimango Kayira urged the flames not to undermine their opponents, saying respect remains the only tool to instill hard working spirit in the players.
Kayira has since suggested a maximization of the squad’s depth and proper management of player rotation, if Malawi is to lift the trophy.
He said; “Lesotho tends to be organized and difficult to break down, so it should aim at being aggressive but with calculated start, using width and pace to stretch them. Namibia is more physical and fast on the break. Defensive discipline and midfield control will be key to neutralize their threats.”
Flames who are in group B, will face Angola during it’s last group stages game on June 10, 2025.
Days ago, Flames Head Coach Kalisto Pasuwa named a 25-member squad, leaving out most regular faces at the national team.
The team has travelled without Silver Strikers Midlfielder Zebron Kalima, who is ruled out due to injury and Japan-based defender Washali Jaziya, who sought to be excused.
Malawi has never lifted the tournament before, but it’s highest but drew near the title twice, in 2001 and 2003 when it lost the final matches to South Africa, 4-1 on aggregate and Zimbabwe 4-1on aggregate respectively.
