Up for history: How Flames have performed at COSAFA in past 10 years

The Flames have never won the COSAFA Cup since its inception in 1983, coming closest in 2002 and 2003 when they reached the finals of the tournament.

In 2002, the Malawi National Team beat Angola in the quarterfinals 2-1, with Essau Kanyenda scoring the first goal before Fernandez Perreira scored an own goal to give Malawi a 2-goal advantage. However, Angola pulled one back early in the second half through Peter Mponda’s own goal.

But this time, Malawi would like to cross the edges and win the tournament regardless of their recent shortfalls.

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We take a look at how the team has been performing at the tournament in the last 10 years:

2015: Plate Cup Victory

In 2015, Malawi brought home the COSAFA Plate Cup trophy after beating Zambia and South Africa in the final and semifinals respectively.

The team found themselves in the Plate Cup after crashing out of the COSAFA Cup as they lost to Mozambique on penalties.

Lucky Malata scored an early own goal for Mozambique, but Muhammad Sulumba leveled the scores early in the second half. Limbikani Mzava scored for Malawi from the spot, but he scored an own goal to level the scores, and Mozambique won 5-4 on penalties.

In the Plate competition, Malawi beat South Africa on penalties after a goalless draw, while Zambia hammered Ghana 3-0 to set up the rivalry with their neighbors. Zicco Mkanda scored the only goal for Malawi to win the Plate.

2016: Group Stage Exit

In 2016, Malawi returned to the tournament with renewed interest in winning the tournament, but despite their impressive wins against Angola and Mauritius, they lost the last game in the group stages to Lesotho and finished as runners-up in Group B.

The team kicked off the campaign with a powerful 3-0 win over Angola at Independence Stadium. Gabadinho Mhango scored a hat-trick at the tournament before Miracle Gabeya scored the only goal against Mauritius.

Jane Thabantšo ended Malawi’s journey by scoring a late goal as Lesotho beat the Flames 1-0. Lesotho won the group with 9 points, while Malawi finished with 6 points.

2017: Disappointing Performance

In 2017, Malawi endured one of their worst experiences at the tournament, failing to score in three matches and finishing at the bottom of Group A after losing to Tanzania and drawing against Angola and Mauritius.

2018: Another Group Stage Exit

In 2018, Malawi also finished bottom of the group behind Botswana, Angola, and Mauritius. They collected two points again, losing to Mauritius and drawing against Angola and Botswana.

2019: Quarterfinal Heartbreak

After two back-to-back disappointments in the group stages, Malawi won the group in 2019 ahead of Namibia, Mozambique, and Seychelles.

They kicked off the campaign with a 3-0 win over Seychelles, with Gabadinho Mhango, Richard Mbulu, and Gerald Phiri scoring a goal each, before beating Namibia 2-1, thanks to goals from Gabadinho Mhango and Gerald Phiri. Hassan Kajoke scored in the draw against Mozambique for the team to finish the group stages with 7 points.

In the quarterfinals, Malawi lost to Zambia on penalties after letting a 2-0 lead slip in the 89th minute when Emmanuel Chabula and Austin Muwowo canceled out Gabadinho Mhango and Gerald Phiri’s goals.

The team came close to winning the Plate Cup but lost to South Africa after beating Comoros in the semifinals of the Plate Cup.

2020: Tournament Canceled

The COVID-19 pandemic meant there was no tournament played in 2020.

2021: Group Stage Struggles

The action returned in 2021 as the competition was staged in Gqeberha, South Africa. The team returned to the tournament but failed to replicate the previous run.

They were booked out of the tournament after finishing 4th in a group of five members. They drew 2-2 against Zimbabwe, with Kuda Muyaba and Shumacker Kuwali scoring for Malawi.

Thereafter, they lost 2-0 to Mozambique and played a 1-all draw against Namibia, with Mecium Mhone scoring for Malawi. The team capped off their group stage with a 2-1 defeat to Senegal, and Kuda Muyaba scored the only goal.

2022: Early Exit

In 2022, Malawi returned to the tournament again and again, they crashed out in the group stages after finishing third in a group of four members.

They lost to Lesotho in the opening match 2-1, with Chiukepo Msowoya scoring the consolation goal before suffering a late equalizer in a 1-all draw against Eswatini, and Kuda Muyaba was the scorer for Malawi. The team beat Mauritius 2-0 in the last game, with Stanley Sanudi and Mecium Mhone scoring for the Flames.

2023: Semifinal Appearance

In 2023, Malawi produced their first-ever impressive performance since 2003 when they reached the semifinals, only to lose to Lesotho.

They kicked off the journey with a 1-0 win over neighbors Zambia before beating Seychelles 2-0, with Lanjesi Nkhoma and Christopher Kumwembe scoring for Malawi.

Patrick Mwaungulu and Chawanangwa Kaonga scored a goal each when Malawi capped off their group stage with a 2-0 win over Comoros. The team won the group with 9 points. In the quarterfinals, they lost on penalties to Lesotho after a 1-all draw.

2024: Withdrawal from Tournament

In 2024, Malawi did not participate in the COSAFA Cup as the country was mourning the death of State Vice President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima and eight others.