COSAFA Cup draw 'fair' for Malawi Flames - Peter Mponda

Mponda: Photo Credit: Football Association of Malawi.

Malawi senior national football team assistant coach Peter Mponda has described the 2025 COSAFA Cup draw as fair. However, for those familiar with the Flames business, they have no easy opponents.

Mponda told Malawi FA media that the Flames are in a fair and competitive Group B alongside holders Angola, one-time winners Namibia, and 2023 finalists Lesotho. The draw took place in Mangaung, South Africa, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

“It’s a fair draw. All the teams in our group are strong and have been doing well. It gives each of the four teams a genuine chance to qualify for the semi-finals,” he said.

The sight of the Brave Warriors should scare Malawi. A few weeks ago, Collin Benjamin’s men beat the Flames 1-0 at home in a World Cup qualifier. Of late, Angola and Lesotho have not been easy customers for the team from the Warm Heart of Africa.

Another setback is the health of the Flames’ coach Kalisto Pasuwa. With the 14-member tournament 12 days away, Pasuwa is yet to fully recover from an illness that sidelined him from the African Nations Championship qualifier against Bafana Bafana on May 11.

Currently hospitalised in the ICU in Pretoria, considering the severity of Pasuwa's illness, Mponda could take charge of the 2002 and 2003 finalists at the tournament.

Malawi are returning to the tournament after missing last year’s edition due to the death of Vice President Saulos Chilima, who died in a plane crash.

The top team from each of the four groups will advance to the semi-finals.