Malawi head coach Kalisto Pasuwa is under mounting pressure following his side’s poor showing at the recently concluded Four Nations Tournament.
The Flames finished bottom of the standings without a single point or goal. They fell to Zambia 9-8 on penalties after a goalless draw in regulation time, before suffering a 1-0 defeat to hosts Botswana in the third-place playoff.
In the aftermath, some Malawian supporters in Francistown who attended the matches verbally criticised the players, accusing them of wasting taxpayers’ money.
Back home, calls have intensified on social media for the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) to dismiss Pasuwa after the disappointing campaign.
“How do you lose to Zambia U23? This coach should be fired,” said one supporter, William George.
Martin Malava, also a fan wrote on Facebook, “If this team was given any allocation in the national budget, we should think twice! We have other better things.”
Isaac Ziba also shared his thought, “Every coach of flames is a victim. I don’t understand with the team, is the coach a problem or players ? Can fam establish a commission of inquiry.”
“Fire pasuwa, please, guys, mpira ndima results,” Gift Anusa demanded on FAM’s Facebook page.
FAM president responds to calls
FAM president Fleetwood Haiya has also expressed disappointment with the Flames’ performance at the Four Nations Tournament.
“The Flames have not risen to the occasion in this Four Nations tournament, and we acknowledge the disappointment this brings to our supporters.
“However, our hope remains anchored in the example set by the Scorchers, who, despite early setbacks in friendlies, learned, improved, and ultimately qualified. We believe the same path is possible for the Flames. The preparations have been provided, and these experiences must now translate into growth and results.
The expectation and target remains clear; Qualification for the 2027 Afcon is a must,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking after the match against Botswana, Pasuwa said he was encouraged by his team’s display, noting an improvement from their previous outing against Zambia.
“Today the performance was better than the previous match. We will keep building the team otherwise this is part of the game,” said the Zimbabwean.
Ironically, his former side, Zimbabwe, went on to win the tournament under ex-Malawi coach Mario Marinica. Pasuwa has now overseen 20 matches in charge, winning seven.
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