Malawi National Football Team, the Flames coach Kalisto Pasuwa has said he would build on positives following back-to-back defeats in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.
The Flames’ World Cup dream went up in smoke after a 1-0 loss to Namibia at Bingu National Stadium last week before a 0-2 away defeat to Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles at Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Tunisia, Monday.
But Pasuwa insisted that despite the two defeats he was pleased with the performance of the team especially against Tunisia.
“Despite conceding two goals, we were very solid in terms of trying to shut away these guys. We had some moments where we were playing beautiful football. I think with time, we will do better,” Pasuwa said.
Pasuwa was appointed Flames coach on a two-year contract in February this year, replacing Patrick Mabedi.
The Zimbabwean has been in charge of the Flames in six matches in all competitions.
He has registered three wins, two losses and one draw.
Pasuwa impressed as interim coach when he helped the team beat Burkina Faso 3-0 in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.
Prior to that, he helped the Flames earn a goal-less stalemate against Burundi.
Pasuwa said his project was on the right track.
“The fighting spirit was there. You could see there is direction in the way we are doing our business. It is not easy to contain big teams that have players from Europe while we have local players and some playing in Mozambique. They are technically and tactically sound,” Pasuwa said.
Currently, the Flames are fifth in Group H with six points, 10 points behind leaders Tunisia.
Namibia and Liberia are second and third with 12 points and 10 points respectively.
Equatorial Guinea are fourth with seven points whereas Sao Tome and Principe anchor the group without a point.
Sports analyst George Kaudza-Masina said it was too early to judge Pasuwa.
“The two World Cup games were a real test, unlike in the previous Afcon games results which were more ceremonial. Otherwise, we have managed to reduce the goals conceded which is positive for now. It is time we started winning against the best,” he said.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) second vice president Lameck Khonje was confident that Pasuwa had started well.
“We played well against Tunisia which is giving us hope that this project will yield results,”Khonje told our sister paper The Daily Times.
Malawi will face Namibia away on September 1 before hosting Liberia seven days later.
Thereafter, the Flames will host Equatorial Guinea on October 6 before wrapping up the qualifiers with an away fixture against Sao Tome and Principe on October 13.
