Wa Ganyu 

Despite Malawi scoring three and assisting one, the Flames lost 3-2 to Burundi at Bingu National Stadium in a Group L opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Thursday afternoon.

Flames coach Patrick Mabedi has reacted to the defeat saying he is not under any pressure though supporters during the match demanded his removal.

The visitors scored first through an own goal from Chimwemwe Idana but Malawi levelled from Chawanangwa Kaonga strike. Burundi restore their lead later through Jean Girumugisha.

Malawi levelled again in the second half through Lanjesi Nkhoma but it was Makono Eldinho who scored the winner after the blunder from Malawi defence and forced the game to end 3-2 to the visitors.

Patrick Mabedi reaction to the defeat:

Very bad result, the play was not good, we were not ourselves to be honest, and the combination was not good at the back. We could not coordinate very well, sometimes it is difficult just to practice things, we were struggling in terms of defence in terms of combination to go forward. You could see other goals we gave away. We need to take it and move on, no need to complain. It was not what we planned, we had a bad game. If you don’t prepare, this is the result.

Reaction to his substitution which disappointed supporters.  

Supporters and our technical team see the game differently, Chester had a grand game [but] tactically you could see when he gets the ball he goes inside and loses it, or ending up failing to give Lanjesi which means we overloaded one side. We looked at the technical way…that’s why we changed by putting somebody. Also he started to be tired, so we looked at if we had crosses we can utilize and get a goal.

On why he played right back Gomezgani Chirwa to the left back?  

We have a problem in this country, we don’t have left backs, you could see we have Tatenda [M’balaka] injured, we don’t have anyone who we can train with just a day, we thought of somebody who played in that position, so we saw Gome played at Afcon before and was doing well at the left, that was the reason we played him there.

Positives ahead of the Burkina Faso match next week?  

There are some positives we take from this match, see the goals we scored, we worked on it, we need to go back and work into the organisation at the back.

Reaction to the pressure from fans?

If you can’t get the heat in the kitchen it means you can’t get out, this is the pressure I have been taking while playing for the national team, this is nothing, teams lose, teams get hammered, I don’t see any pressure, you see, even fans want someone to play, and I want something on technical, you don’t need to listen, at times you need to be stubborn for the good of the team not because someone is saying something, this is not pressure, its nothing.

Any need of bringing other players like Gaba?

It will not help because we only have one day, and you don’t train, combination is key, there is always saying practice makes you permanent, if you don’t train,  you cannot be permanent, its normal, even you bring Ronaldinho, Ronaldo one day will not help you anything, it’s a matter of having time to practice that. I brought Gaba that you mentioned during 4 Nations, what happened? Nothing.

Line-ups: 

Malawi

George Chikooka, Stanley Sanudi, Gomezgani Chirwa, Chembezi Denis, Llyod Aaron, Nickson Mwase, Chimwemwe Idana, Chawanangwa Kaonga, Chifundo Mphasi, Lanjesi Nkhoma, Yamikani Chester.

Burundi

Mateo Nkurunzinza, Aruna Madjaliwa, Abdoul Manirakoze, Ntibazonkiza Saidi, Jean Claude Girumugisha, Prince Musore, Hussein Shabani, Kanakimana Bienvenue, Tresor Mossi Irutingabo,Youssuf Ndayishimiye