Wound-up Warriors look to douse floundering Flames 

The Brave Warriors will look to capitalise on reported wrangling inside the Malawi camp when they clash in a 2026 Fifa World Cup Qualifier in Lilongwe today.

Much of build-up to the crunch showdown from the Malawian perspective has centred around Flames head coach Kallisto Pasuwa’s selection.

The ex-Nyasa Bullets coach has come under fire from certain quarters for allegedly ignoring performing players in favour of a substantial contingent from his former club.

That discord could play into the hands of the visiting Warriors, who have designs on keeping pace with Group H leaders Tunisia.

Especially going by the lofty standards placed on the Namibian side by their demanding head coach Collin Benjamin, who believes his side are good enough to challenge for a spot at the 2026 Fifa World Cup.

New recruit Josef Bonifasius (27) says under Benjamin “expectations are set quite high” and competition for places in the squad is tough.

If called upon, the Unam FC stalwart is prepared to do whatever it takes to help the team succeed at Bingu National Stadium today.

Namibia have conceded only once in four of these qualifiers, a standard Bonifasius has to maintain should he get the nod.

“As a defender I believe I bring composure, good organisation at the back, and the willingness to put my body on the line for the team,” he says.

“For me, this call-up is a chance to prove myself at this level and to show I can be counted on when the team needs me. The nation can expect full commitment from me,” he says.

Namibia are unbeaten in the qualifiers so far, with eight points on the board.

Victory this evening will reinforce Benjamin’s faith in his side’s ability and ambition.

It will also inspire confidence ahead of hosting Equatorial Guinea at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa, on Saturday.

“For us to succeed in Malawi, we need to stay disciplined, of course. We need to trust in the game plan and we need to fight for every ball,” Bonifasius says.

“It’s all about working as a unit, supporting each other and staying focused from the first whistle to the last. The goal is clear – to get a positive result and make the country proud.”

Malawi come into this match in decent form, having won three of their last five matches.

Currently sitting fourth in the group with six points, the Flames will be aiming to secure a vital home victory to boost their qualification hopes.

The host’s star forward, Gabadinho Mhango, emphasises the importance of securing a victory to boost their qualification hopes.

“We have about six games remaining, but this one is crucial because if we win, then we’ll not be far off from the top two teams,” he says.

“Having done well in recent matches, we are all determined to give out our best and give the fans a reason to smile.”