Malawi coach Pasuwa: ‘We are failing to score’

Having managed some 12 games now, Malawi national team coach Kalisto Pasuwa is as surprised as most of the fans with his team’s misfiring evidenced by inability to score.

The Zimbabwean, who assumed the Flames job with a lot of promise last February, has only won twice, lost seven games and drawn thrice in all competitions.

FT pic.twitter.com/q11948K3zX

— FA Malawi (@FaMalawi) March 31, 2026

The latest defeat came on Tuesday at the hands of second-string Botswana, going down to the hosts 1-0 at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown.

Fans lose their cool with Flames, boo them off the pitch

The defeat meant that Pasuwa and his men, who were booed as they walked off the pitch, exited Mukuru Four Nations Tournament without a win let alone a goal in two games.

When it came to offering an explanation to the media at the stadium, the former FCB Big Bullets mentor could not come out clearly with his diagnosis of the team’s struggles.

“It was a game that we started slowly, then we picked in the last minutes of the first half and we went on with good intensity in the second half,” the ex-Dynamos FC manager said.

“Then we conceded through a counterattack. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do anything because we wanted that goal, but we couldn’t defend it. That is part of the game. Compared to the previous game, this was better in terms of the intensity.”

Pasuwa: Unfortunately, the goals are not coming

Having brought all regulars to the tournament save for injured captain Gabadinho Mhango and defender Chembezi Denis, it is difficult to understand why the Flames lost to B teams of Zambia and Botswana.

“We have been trying to fuse the locally based with some of the players who are playing outside like mostly in Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, the goals are not coming. We are failing to score in the final-third where we need to do more. We will have to sit down and find out where we are missing out.”

Gabone United attacker Kamogelo Moloi scored the only goal of the match in the 66th minute for the Zebras to claim bronze medal at the stadium, where the Flames started the tournament with a loss to Zambia with a post-match score of 9-8 on Saturday.

Overall, Botswana took seven shots against 13 for Malawi with six of them for the Flames on target while the hosts only directed four on goal.

The inquest on Pasuwa will gather momentum amid rising fears ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.