Interim coach Patrick Mabedi says the Flames are ready for the 2023 Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup as they kick off the campaign this evening against neighbours and defending champions Zambia’s Chipolopolo in Group B at King Zwelithini in Durban, South Africa.

In a pre-match interview yesterday, the coach said his charges must rise up to the occasion to prove their worth.

The Flames (in red) and Zambia captured in a previous match

“We look forward to exploit them by giving these boys  an opportunity to show us what they can do,” he said.

The former Flames skipper said they would like to break the jinx against the Chipolopolo Boys.

Said Mabedi: “I strongly believe we are underdogs. We are looking forward to competing and doing our best. Zambia are a very good team and they have experienced players and have been dominating all these years.”

With the two sides topping the Fifa rankings ahead of their group members Seychelles and Comoros, the fixture is highly anticipated as it may determine who top the table and make it to the semis at the end of pool matches.

But statistics favour the defending champions who have four wins and two draws in eight meetings between the two sides while the Flames have two victories.

The two neighbours last met in 2019 in the quarter-finals and the match ended in a two-all draw Malawi crushed out on post-match penalties.

After the battle against the neighbours, Malawi will then take on Seychelles on July 9 at the same venue before wrapping up the pool stage against Comoros on July 11 at Chatsworth Stadium.

The Flames have a better record against Seychelles and Comoros, having won their only meeting with Seychelles, a 3-0 success in 2019, in previous clashes against the Comoros in 2008 and 2019.

Last year, the Flames did not make it past the group stage after beating Mauritius, a draw with e-Swatini and a loss to Lesotho.

That marked the continuation of the Flames’ failure to make it past the group stages since 2019.

But that is in the past, according to Mabedi who was former  Flames coach Mario Marinica’s assistant in 2022.

The former Kaizer Chiefs coach has named a 25-member squad dominated by up-and-coming players who are hungry for success.

The tournament will be the first for Chifundo Mphasi (Shamuel Academy), Christopher Kumwembe, Gaddie Chirwa (Mighty Mukuru Wanderers), Lanjesi Nkhoma (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets), Austin Chirambo ( FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves), Innocent Nyasulu  (Mighty Tigers), Macdonald Lameck (Blue Eagles), Alick Lungu, Frank Willard, Blessings Singini (Ekwendeni Hammers), Chikumbutso Salima, Robert Saizi (Bangwe), Chikondi Kamanga, Patrick Macheso (Silver Strikers) and Chrispin Mapemba (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves).

This is the first time in eight years for Malawi to have  predominantly up-and-coming players at the tournament.

The tactician has blended the debutants with experienced seniors, including Stanley Sanudi, Brighton Munthali, Dan Chimbalanga, Lawrence Chaziya, Nickson Mwase, Chimwemwe Idana, Dennis Chembezi and Zambia-based Zanaco striker Chawanangwa Kaonga, who are not strangers at the regional tournament.

Zambia, on the other hand, have maintained their policy of treating the tournament as developmental.

Chipolopolo assistant coach Moses Sichone, who will be in charge of the team, has named a 23-man squad comprising local players led by Zambia Super League  top scorer FC Muza striker Andrew Phiri, Lawrence Mulenga, Golden Mashata, Benedict Chepeshi, John Kosamu, Albert Kangwanda, Kelvin Kapumbu and Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba as he prepares for the African Nations Championship qualifier later this month.

Sichone said they cannot underrate the Flames.

“It’s not going to be easy because we know how Malawi always want to prove a point,” he said.

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