The Malawi national football team, the Flames, will face Senegal this afternoon at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, in the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers from 3:00 pm.
The match comes just four days after the Lions of Teranga handed the Flames a 4-0 defeat in Dakar, Senegal.
Speaking to the media ahead of today’s clash, Flames coach Patrick Mabedi emphasized the importance of bouncing back. He explained that today’s game will be different from the one in Dakar.
“We are playing a quality team, but being at home changes the dynamics. We’re looking forward to competing and giving our best. It’s a special day for Malawi, and we want to dedicate this match to our mothers. It’s crucial for us to redeem ourselves and prove that we can do better than we did last time,” Mabedi said.
Flames captain John Banda echoed the coach’s sentiments, emphasizing the pride that comes with playing on home soil.
“As players, we know we’ve let the nation down, but now is the time to make things right. We are not a bad team; we can stand up to Senegal. We’ve played them before in the AFCON finals, and I believe this is our moment to redeem ourselves,” Banda stated.
The Flames currently anchor Group L, having failed to win any of their first three matches. In contrast, Senegal sits second with seven points from three games and can secure their qualification for the 2025 AFCON finals with a win today. Burkina Faso leads the group with 10 points from four games and has already qualified, while Burundi is in third place with three points from four matches.