World Cup (Q): Gabadinho rescues Malawi from defeat against Liberia

Former Orlando Pirates star Gabadinho Mhango scored then provided an assist for Malawi as they held Liberia 2-2 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier played in Lilongwe on Monday evening.

Liberia looked to be cruising to a comfortable victory after striker Ayouba Kosiah scored in either half of this Group H match at Bingu National Stadium.

The hosts came onto the pitch hoping to build on their 2-1 victory over Namibia on Friday while Liberia sought to avenge the 1-0 home loss they suffered to the Flames in the first leg.

Malawi, roared on by a partisan home crowd, found themselves trailing following Liberia’s early strike that exposed deep-rooted problems in dealing with setpieces for Kalisto Pasuwa’s men.

Striker Kosiah threw himself up to execute a wonderful bicycle kick which flew to the far end of the net, beating goalkeeper William Thole barely after three minutes.

The goal jolted Malawi into action and they should have scored but a cutback from the right found the otherwise reliable Gabadinho badly positioned.

The Richards Bay forward, scorer in Friday’s 2-1 victory over Namibia, miscued his effort with his right. The former Marumo Gallants forward also had a bicycle kick blocked while defender Charles Petro and busy striker Richard Mbulu skied their efforts on separate occasions.

To their credit, Liberia’s defence stood narrow and solid, repelling all balls Malawi threw at them with their 20-year-old goalkeeper Junior Yeanaye the busiest of the two.

The North Africans went to the break holding on to their advantage and continued from where they had left off in the second half.

Malawi midfielder Lloyd Njaliwa sent a weak effort into the palms of the Liberia keeper before the visitors hit again.

A throw-in from the left was flapped by Thole before the ball fell kindly for Kosiah to bundle it across the goal line in the crowded box.

Malawi reduced the arrears through who else? Gabadinho. He burst from the blind side headed the ball past the Liberia keeper after meeting substitute Mayele Malango’s delivery from the right in the 71st minute.

Nine minutes later, Gabadinho turned provider when he won a foot race on the left then sent a low ball into the box where substitute Chawanangwa Kaonga connected with his powerful left foot to send the stadium wild.

The point gained from the match took fifth-placed Malawi’s tally to 10 points from eight games, one behind Liberia in fourth on par with Equatorial Guinea. A tight race remains for second place and a potential spot in the qualification playoff with only two points separating second from fifth place. However, second place Namibia are likely to extend their lead when they face minnows São Tomé and Príncipe on Tuesday.

Group H Table

1. Tunisia- 22 points (8 matches played)
2. Namibia- 12 points (7 matches)
3. Liberia- 11 points (8 matches)
4. Malawi- 10 points (8 matches)
5. Equatorial Guinea- 10 points (8 matches)
6. São Tomé and Príncipe- 0 points (7 matches)
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