Gabadinho Mhango’s wonderful strike inspires Malawi to 2-1 win over Namibia 

A strike in each half from Richard Mbulu and Gabadinho Mhango inspired the Malawi National Football Team to a comfortable 2-1 win over Namibia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers played in Francis town in Botswana at the Obert Itani Chilume Stadium on Friday afternoon.

The Flames, who lost 1-0 to the Warrious in the reverse fixture, had all to fight for to keep their qualifying hopes alive.

Just after five minutes, Kalisto Pasuwa’s men broke the deadlock through Mbulu, who capitalised on a back-pass error to slot the ball into an empty net.

From there onwards, Pasuwa’s men didn’t do much in terms of creating scoring chances as they placed a defensive low block that made it extremely challenging for the hosts to break, but at times, the visitors could launch counterattacks to put Namibia under intense pressure.

The visitors suffered a massive blow in the 34th minute when goalkeeper William Thole was substituted after suffering from an injury caused by Dean Hotto as the striker was trying to get to the end of a through ball which he missed and ended up hitting the shot-stopper. He was replaced by George Chikooka.

There was another chance for Namibia when Hotto sent a brilliant pass into the box, and with Chikooka already beaten, Kamatuka blasted his effort over the crossbar with the goal wide open.

The Namibians had another chance in the additional minutes when Peter Shalulile set up Kamatuka in the six-yard box, but the winger was denied by Chikooka, who produced a brilliant save to maintain his team’s slender lead.

After the recess, Pasuwa brought in Chawanangwa Kaonga for Robert Saizi to try to add more attacking prowess.

In the 52nd minute, the Flames doubled their advantage with a brilliant display of skill. Mhango intercepted a pass inside Malawi’s half and noticed Maova out of his line. In a manner similar to his goal against Morocco in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Mhango seized the opportunity to shoot at goal, with the ball rolling over Maova into the net, likely a contender for goal of the qualifying round, thereby increasing Malawi’s lead to 0-2.

This goal pushed Mhango to increase his attacking pace, and he nearly doubled his tally in the 62nd minute when he made a brilliant run into the box before firing at goal. However, despite beating Maova, Mhango couldn’t beat the post as it denied him the opportunity to find the back of the net.

The hosts were under intense pressure from the visitors who were now oozing with confidence.

Mhango was at it again in the 66th minute when he forced Maova to make a save for a corner that almost resulted in Malawi’s third goal as the hosts struggled to deal with the set piece before another save from Maova to still keep his side in the game.

For the next ten minutes, the Flames intensified their attacks on the hosts, who almost conceded another goal in the 75th minute, but the post came to their rescue as it denied MacDonald Lameck from registering his name on the scoresheet.

At the other end, Shalulile thought he had found the back of the net when his powerful header, bound for a goal, was well saved by Chikooka for a corner.

The hosts were able to reduce the arrears in the 85th minute through David Ndeunyema, who scored through a powerful header that beat Chikooka, 1-2.

Pasuwa brought in Malango Mayere for Mbulu in the 86th minute and Maxwell Paipi for Lloyd Njaliwa in the 90th minute to try to manage the game in the dying minutes of the match.

The hosts had a chance in the final minute of the added time when the Flames players were caught napping in the line of duty, but despite being unmarked, Hotto fired wide inside the penalty box.

Despite a late threat from the hosts, Pasuwa’s men held on to claim their third win in the qualifying round ahead of Monday’s home game against Sao Tome at Bingu National Stadium.

Pasuwa’s men are fifth in the table with nine points from seven games, ten points behind Tunisia in Group H.

As for Namibia, the defeat is a blow in their pursuit of a place at next year’s FIFA World Cup as they are seven points behind the log leaders.