United Kingdom-based Malawian forward, Henry Kumwenda has been given the chance to prove his worth as Patrick Mabedi gives him the starting berth in the team that is facing Equatorial Guinea this afternoon in Malabo.

Patrick Mabedi praised the youngster saying that he is a striker who can play in all the positions up front. Mabedi was speaking on Thursday after beating Sao Tome 3-1 at Bingu National Stadium defending his decision to sub on both Kumwenda and Kamuzu Barracks’ striker, Zeliati Nkhoma.

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“We noted that we were under pressure and we needed to give them pressure too by introducing two strikers. After making the substitutions, we took the pressure away from them,” he said.

Chawangwa Kaonga opened the scores before Lanjesi Nkhoma doubled it in the first half but the visitors halved the lead early in the second half, thanks to Chifundo Mphasi’s goal in the second half which cushioned Malawi’s lead.

Towards the end of the game, Mabedi introduced Kumwenda and Nkhoma for Kaonga and Mphasi saying that he knew that Kumwenda could play in all positions.

“You haven’t known more about Henry [Kumwenda]. He is a striker who can also operate from wide areas and that’s why he was most of the time operating from wide but I put him behind Zeliati,” added Mabedi.

Patrick General Mabedi makes two changes from the team that beat Sao Tome 3-1 last week as Patrick Mwangulu and Henry Kumwenda start in place of Chifundo Mphasi and Robert Saizi.

Chawanangwa Kaonga gets the node upfront while Lanjesi Nkhoma and Mwaungulu will operate from either flank.

After a marvelous performance against Sao Tome, Lloyd Aaron Banega leads the midfield with Chimwemwe Idana playing alongside him while Dennis Chembezi and Nixon Mwase play as Centre Backs.

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George Chikooka starts in goals ahead of Brighton Munthali while Stanley Sanudi and Tatenda M’balaka play as full-back.

Kumwenda who plays for Butler Men’s Soccer is among the new generation of foreign country-based players with Malawian roots coach Mabedi has identified over the past months aimed at improving his team to mount a realistic challenge in various competitions the team will play.

He was part of the Flames pre-camp for 2021 Cameroun AFCON but did not make the final squad. In March this year, he made his official debut during the Four Nations tournament when he came in as a substitute in the third-place playoff against Zambia.

“It is an honor to be part of the team and play for your country. To have the coaches’ trust, and be able to perform is motivating,” Kumwenda tells FAM Media. “It gives a lot of confidence. I have been part of this team before but was not able to make the final squad and that has given me a platform to build on.

“I am very excited and I know friends and family are wishing me luck. The group of players in the current squad is very talented if you watch them in training even in matches. As the coach has said we have an opportunity to do something very special that we have never done before such as qualifying for the World Cup. This can mean a lot to the country and the players.”

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