Pasuwa says building Malawi for 2027 AFCON qualifiers

Malawi coach Kalisto Pasuwa has highlighted the importance of the forthcoming friendlies against Lesotho ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The Flames take on Likuena back-to-back on Saturday and Tuesday at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

“Ndine osangalala kwambiri chifukwa coach wandikhulupiliranso,” Uchizi Vunga pic.twitter.com/m9NpP9lD1P

— FA Malawi (@FaMalawi) November 12, 2025

Pasuwa explained that he wants to use the friendlies to test new players and combinations drawing lessons from a disjointed outing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

“Remember, the 2027 AFCON qualifiers are just around the corner, so these matches are very important,” Pasuwa told Malawi FA TV ahead of the two fixtures.

“This will help us assess some of the players who haven’t been getting minutes in our previous matches.”

The new players that need to gel with the rest of the squad include newly-called Yann Kouakou, Mayele Malango, Babatunde Adepoju, Chifundo Mphasi, recalled Uchizi Vunga and Blessings Mpokera.

What Lesotho friendly offers for Malawi

The Zimbabwean, who is yet to translate his success at FCB Big Bullets in the national team, added that he was also targeting good results to help improve on the FIFA/Coca Cola World Rankings.

“We need to win and move up places because it will determine our seeding during the draw,” Pasuwa added.

The Flames have never defeated Lesotho in the 15 years across all competitions and should be looking forward to ending that run.

Malawi last beat Lesotho 1-0 in a 2009 friendly followed by four draws and three defeats.

The Flames’ quest for an improvement on the rankings has always been undermined by poor results evidenced by their 1-0 loss to Principe and Sao Tome in October.

Lesotho have a spring in their step going into the friendlies they gave Nigeria a run for their money then stunned Zimbabwe 1-0 to finish the World Cup qualifiers on a high.