Rachel Kaphaizi
Malawi is going through so much. From fuel shortages, a crumbling economy, soaring food prices and an election just days away that often divides the nation along party and tribal lines.
But yesterday, what mattered most was Malawi, and the Flames in their search for a maiden appearance at the FIFA World Cup, this time slated for 2026.
Contrary to expectations, the match against Liberia did not start well. In just the third minute, Youba Kosiah silenced the home crowd with a brilliant overhead strike that eluded Malawi goalkeeper William Thole and his defenders to give the visitors what some felt was an undeserved lead. But this is football. And it’s the goals that matter.
Malawi fought back bravely. Charles Petro came close in the 9th minute, played through by Gabadinho Mhango, but his shot sailed over the bar. Wisdom Mpinganjira, wise all night, made his equal attempts that were well matched by the Liberian goalie. McDonald Lameck nearly levelled in the 32nd minute, only for his effort to be blocked. But nothing really to smile about for the thousands who braved the night to watch their Flames.
When Liberia struck again through Kosiah in the 61st minute, this time from a throw-in which Thole missed in the air, only for Kosiah to head it home, the Flames were staring at defeat with two goals down.
Very uncharacteristic of Malawi, last night, they refused to surrender. The crowd pushed them forward to attack, and within the closing 20 minutes, there was hope they could salvage something.
Then the 72nd minute came.
Mayele Malango who replaced Patrick Mwaungulu, making his home debut, swung in a perfect cross that Gabadinho Mhango headed home. For Malango, once a refugee child, now wearing the red, black and green of Malawi, it was a moment of pride and resilience that touched hearts of the stadium.
Only minutes later, fellow substitute Chawanangwa Kaonga connected with a Mhango assist to equalise in the 80th minute.
And the stadium erupted with deserved joy. And that was the case through to the end, even when they didn’t manage a victory that could have seen them close the gap on second placed Namibia in their group.
Nevertheless, head coach Kalisto Pasuwa was full of praise for his team.
“The boys did well. That is one area where we have seen they have character. One would have thought it was over, but they resisted until they got the two goals. They could even have scored a winner in the dying minutes. Well done to the boys,” he said, adding that the performance showed progress in building a strong team for the future.
For the fans, the night belonged not only to the Flames’ fighting spirit, but their own resilience for holding on to hope.
We saw it in the stands. Strangers hugged, sang, as their smiles carried them out of the stadium into the Area 49 darkness and to their homes across the country. That rare joy of the night, the kind that makes you forget who you are, or which corner of the country you come from as all that mattered was being Malawian.
For one evening, under the stars, Malawi felt whole again.
Group H Standings
- Tunisia 8 games 22 points
- Namibia 7 games 12 points
- Liberia 8 games 11 points
- Malawi 8 games 10 points
- Equatorial Guinea 8 games 10 points
- Sao Tome 7 games 0 points
