Malango pleads with fans after Flames embarrassment

United States-based striker Mayele Malango has taken personal responsibility for Malawi national team’s abject performance at the Mukuru Four Nations Tournament in Botswana.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo-born forward and his Nigerian-born Babatunde Adepoju team-mate have become the scapegoat for the Flames’ embarrassment. Pasuwa and his men finished the invitational tournament without a goal let alone a win in two games.

To be fair, the criticism, including from former Flames players such as Khuda Muyaba— obviously bitter over his continued exclusion from the national team—is not only about Malango and Adepoju’s failure to rescue the Flames with goals.

Why Malango and Adepoju are being targeted for criticism

It is largely about envy considering that they opted to exercise their right to represent Malawi instead of their countries of birth. There are some people who simply cannot embrace diversity in the team and want to use the duo as the excuse for the failure.

Nonetheless, Malango, the Sacramento Republic FC striker, has pleaded with the Flames fans not to give up on the team. The America-based forward addressed the fans via his Facebook page.

He was reacting to the anger and frustrations the supporters are vending on social media platforms in the aftermath of the disappointing outing in Botswana.

Malango responds to frustrations of Flames supporters

The DR Congo-born striker acknowledged that the fans were justified to vent their frustrations with the Flames.

FT pic.twitter.com/q11948K3zX

— FA Malawi (@FaMalawi) March 31, 2026

“It was not the results we wanted from the 4 Nations Tournament in Botswana,” Malango wrote on his Facebook page.

“But I’m sure we will come back stronger and turn things around. We know that all the fans are not happy with the national team at the moment, but we need your support and we want you all to stay with us and believe in us.”

Malawi emerged from the tournament as the worst performer losing 9-8 to Zambia on post-match penalties, following a 0-0 draw in regulation time, then suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Botswana.

Such a performance has analysts pressing the panic button ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.