Pasuwa calls his usual weapon, Babatunde joins Flames camp

When Babatunde Adepoju’s name appeared on Kalisto Pasuwa’s squad list for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers, the murmurs of skepticism were predictable. At 29, soon to turn 30, critics argue the opportunity has arrived belatedly.

Yet this perspective fundamentally misunderstands both the immediate predicament facing the Flames and the compelling credentials that make Adepoju’s inclusion not merely logical, but essential.

The Numbers Tell an Irrefutable Story. Statistics, when properly contextualized, rarely deceive. Since donning the FCB Nyasa Big Bullets jersey in July 2021, Adepoju has been nothing short of phenomenal.

MORE NEWS FROM WAMPIRA

His record stands as testament to extraordinary consistency: 67 goals and 25 assists across 114 appearances in all competitions—a staggering 92 goal contributions that would make any striker in the region envious.

This isn’t the fleeting brilliance of a purple patch merchant. These are numbers accumulated systematically, relentlessly, across multiple seasons and competitions. Consider his 2022 campaign—arguably the apex of his Malawian odyssey—where he netted 18 league goals and five FDH Bank Cup goals, claiming golden boots in both competitions while propelling Bullets to a historic double. Such performances don’t emerge from fortune; they emanate from genuine quality.

Even more remarkably, Adepoju currently leads this season’s scoring charts with 11 goals from 16 matches, extending to 15 goals across all competitions in just 21 appearances. This isn’t a striker in decline—this is a footballer operating at the zenith of his powers.

The uncomfortable reality facing Malawian football is this: our striking department isn’t blessed with youthful exuberance. Richard Mbulu approaches 32, Gabadinho Mhango turns 33 this September, and even Mayele Malango—considered among the younger options—will be 29 come February. The average age of our forward line already hovers perilously close to the three-decade mark.

Those lamenting Adepoju’s age as problematic must confront this question: compared to whom exactly? The notion that his inclusion represents some geriatric gamble collapses under the slightest scrutiny when one examines the alternatives. If anything, Adepoju arrives with superior recent form and match sharpness, having terrorized TNM Super League defenses week after week.

Chemistry between coach and player cannot be manufactured overnight, particularly at international level where preparation time is severely compressed. Pasuwa’s intimate knowledge of Adepoju—cultivated over 87 matches together at Bullets, yielding 52 goals and 21 assists—represents an invaluable asset that shouldn’t be casually dismissed.

The gaffer understands instinctively how to maximize Adepoju’s strengths: his aerial dominance, his positioning in the box, his capacity to perform in high-stakes encounters. This familiarity eliminates the integration period typically required when incorporating new players into national team setups. Adepoju can slot seamlessly into tactical frameworks, understanding Pasuwa’s philosophy and demands without extensive explanation.

Pasuwa faces an unenviable balancing act: construct a competitive squad for 2027 AFCON while simultaneously delivering results in the present. These aren’t mutually exclusive objectives, despite their apparent tension.

The coach himself articulated this challenge eloquently during his recent press briefing, acknowledging that while building remains paramount, immediate performances matter tremendously.

This is where Adepoju’s value crystallizes. He provides the reliable, proven goal-scoring capacity necessary to compete against formidable opponents like Equatorial Guinea and Morocco while younger talents continue their developmental trajectories.

International football demands experience, composure, and an understanding of high-pressure situations—attributes Adepoju has demonstrated repeatedly in crucial cup finals and title-deciding matches.

Speaking during the press briefing last week, when pressed on Babatunde, Pasuwa hinted that the door was always open for the players who are doing well in the league.

“Everyone has got chances to be part of the team, provided he has the qualities for the national team,” he said.

Pasuwa’s clearly stated that while the main target is building a team for 2027 AFCON but getting results is also important currently. “These are two games which are very crucial to me in building a team.

Meeting a team like Equatorial Guinea—that’s one of the bigger teams in Africa—and I will say when building a team, we can’t say after playing one game that we have the 11 players that we need.

“We will build up starting from the back going forward, so we have areas we are looking at to say: if we have these players, can they match a team which is physical when playing? And when playing teams like Morocco, they will come with another type of style, so we need to see how we can match that.

There’s something profoundly compelling about Adepoju’s journey—a narrative that transcends mere statistics. This is a footballer who arrived in Malawi nearly a decade ago, endured failed trials, persevered through setbacks, and ultimately flourished spectacularly. He’s learned Chichewa, married a Malawian woman, fathered a Malawian child, and fully embraced this nation as his home.

His desire to represent Malawi isn’t opportunistic calculation; it’s genuine gratitude for a country that afforded him opportunities when others wouldn’t. “Malawi as a nation has given me a lot,” he stated simply. “I have been a successful footballer in Malawi, and definitely, I want to be part of the National Team if an opportunity comes.”

Such sentiments matter. International football thrives on players willing to exhaust themselves for the badge, to transform individual talent into collective sacrifice. Adepoju’s commitment appears unquestionable.

The criticism that Adepoju’s call-up arrives “too late” reflects a peculiar obsession with chronological age rather than footballing readiness. Yes, he’s 29. Yes, ideally this opportunity might have materialized earlier. But we must deal with present realities, not hypothetical alternative timelines.

Right now, Malawi possesses a naturalized striker in devastating form, intimately familiar with the national team coach’s methods, experienced in winning major domestic honors, and desperate to contribute at international level. Deploying him isn’t desperation—it’s pragmatism.