The Malawi National Football team coach Kalisto Pasuwa says he anticipate a tough encounter in the next round of preliminary round after easing past Comoros.
Wongani Lungu and Binwell Katinji scored two second half goals to beat Comoros 2-0, helping Flames reach the second round of African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying round with a 4-0 aggregate victory.
Next up for Malawi in the competition is either South Africa or Egypt whose first leg match ended goalless.
Speaking after the match, Pasuwa acknowledged that his team needs to be at their best to go past the next opponent.
“Of course we expect to meet tougher opponents, we need also to be tougher and it means also need to change how we prepare ourselves”
Pasuwa promised before the match to remain attacking minded and cautious defensively. He showed this by playing three midfielders behind the trio of Katinji, Gaddie Chirwa and Wisdom Mpinganjira.
The Zimbabwean deployed Wongani Lungu into the number 10 role, with Yankho Singo and Lloyd Aaron Infront of defence as he looked to protect the 0-2 first-leg lead.
However Pasuwa’s gameplan stunted as the first half ended with just a single shot on target.
“The first 45 minutes we were a little bit jittery but the good thing is the boys managed to keep the clean sheet in the first 45 minutes” Pasuwa told reporters during post-match conference.
The game produced first shot on target on 23rd minute when Comoros goalie Ahamed Fadjidou denied Wongani Lungu scoring from 20 metres range, as he dived to his right hand side to punch the ball out for a corner.
Albeit of few chances from either side and slight Flames’ dominance in possession and chances, but the game remained sloppy until the break.
The Flames had a better start of the second half, as Lloyd Aaron, Wongani Lungu, Gaddie Chirwa started showing their decisive quality to push for the lead.
Youngster Wongani Lungu broke the deadlock on 50th minute with a close range finish after combining with Aaron and Chirwa as the Comoros defence was sliced open.
The Flames extended the lead nine minutes later, as striker Binwell Katinji connected a Macdonald Lameck’s pass into the top corner of the net to seal the victory for the hosts.
Moments later, Comoros could have pulled one back when Alick Lungu gave away possession to Ali Soufiane Immadoudine who run into the box, but Singo intercepted to concede corner before he pulled a trigger.
Katinji nearly bagged a brace after 67 minutes, when received a beautiful pass from Wisdom Mpinganjira inside the box, but the Silver Strikers man sent a weak shot forcing Fadjidou into a serve.
The visitors had their chances towards the end, but Malawi goalkeeper, George Chikooka denied Ali Soufiane Obeidullah Ben and Abdallah Said Sadad with saves.
Despite the dying minutes threats, Flames defence marshalled by Maxwell Paipi, Nickson Mwase, Alick Lungu and Macdonald steeled themselves and held on to progress with a clean sheet.
