CHAN Qualifying: Pasuwa cautions Flames ahead of Bafana Bafana return

Malawi players train: Football Association of Malawi.

Malawi coach Kalisto Pasuwa has cautioned the Flames that the African Nations Championship (CHAN) final qualifying tie against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana is far from over.

The two teams will meet at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Sunday, May 11. The hosts need a two-goal margin to qualify for the CHAN finals, while a draw will see the visitors through.

Pasuwa acknowledged that the Flames only hold a slim 1-0 advantage from the first leg, and therefore, it's all still to play for in the CHAN final qualifying round second leg.

“It is only the first half we've played, and we are going for the second half. We have been trying to remind each other that it is not done until it is done. So we need to be positive in whatever we do. We are not going there to defend. We also need to be attacking, as the best way of defending is attacking.”

The former Zimbabwe coach has advised the Flames to have a winning mentality and avoid thinking of defending in South Africa.

“South Africa plays a possession-based game. They will need to keep the ball away from their opponents, so we need to quickly adjust and match them in whatever they do,” he said.

The overall winner between Malawi and South Africa will qualify for the CHAN finals scheduled for July 2025 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.