Malawi’s Flames leave behind hospitalised Pasuwa in South Africa

Pasuwa: Photo Credit: Football Association of Malawi.

The Malawi senior national football team's squad returned home from South Africa on Monday, May 12, 2025 without hospitalized head coach Kalisto Pasuwa.

The Football Association of Malawi spokesperson Gomezgani Zakazaka confirmed that the former Zimbabwe’s Warriors handler was under observation at a hospital in Pretoria.

“He hasn’t been discharged yet, as doctors recommended that they still needed to observe him. Otherwise, he remains in stable condition and we expect him to return home soon,” Zakazaka told The Nation newspaper of Malawi.

The Zimbabwean was taken ill on the eve of the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) final qualifying round, second leg match between the Flames and Bafana Bafana on Sunday, May 11, 2025.

In Pasuwa’s absence, his assistant Peter Mponda took charge of the Flames, who lost 2-0 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria to miss the CHAN qualification ticket 2-1 on aggregate.

The former FCB Nyasa Big Bullets mentor had presided over a home 1-0 win over Bafana Bafana in the CHAN final qualifying round, first leg match in Lilongwe the previous weekend.

Victor Letsoalo and Neo Maema scored in each half to see Bafana Bafana through to the CHAN finals scheduled for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in August 2025.