Malawi National Football Team Coach Kalisto Pasuwa has challenged his charges to develop thick skin as they prepare to face the continent’s best teams in the ongoing African Nations Championship (Chan).
The Flames will face South Africa in the second round of the continental championship in May this year.
Pasuwa was reacting to South Africa’s 3-1 victory over Egypt on Sunday.
The sides drew during the first leg.
The Zimbabwean said the Flames must be ready to face Africa’s strongest sides in the tournament.
“We knew before the match started that we were going to play against one of Africa’s football giants. So, we are not surprised [with the outcome].
“Remember: To be the best, we have to compete against the best,” he said.
Pasuwa said he would deploy a different approach when his troops engage South Africa on the pitch.
“We will definitely come up with something different in the next round because the matches are different. It may be a change in the system, formation or personnel.
“The match in South Africa will be different from the one here in Malawi; as such, we will consider changes, definitely,” he said.
However, one of the country’s football analysts John Mkisi said the team needed proper preparations and beefing up before taking on South Africa.
“They only have next month [April] to prepare. Remember the league will be in session by then, such that he will have to rely on players he knows. The coach might need to beef up his squad with some locally-based experienced players,” Mkisi said.
The fixture against South Africa ignites the rivalry between the two sides as Malawi were booted out of Cosafa Cup in 2023 5-3 on post-match penalties.
The Flames reached Chan’s second round after defeating Comoros 4-0 on aggregate.
They won the first and second legs by 2-0 margins.
The Chan finals are expected to take place in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania in August later this year.
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