FCB Nyasa Big Bullets striker Lanjesi Nkhoma scored a 74th minute equaliser to hand Malawi national football, the Flames a 1 all draw against Mozambique in a practice match at Zimpeto National Stadium in Maputo,  Mozambique on Wednesday  morning.

This was  Flames interim coach Patrick Mabedi first match as the team continues preparations for next Tuesday’s  TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations ( Afcon) qualifier against Ethiopia at the same venue.

Telinho gave the hosts the lead in the 56th minute before Nkhoma leveled matters 18 minutes later.

Brighton Munthali started in goals while  Stanley Sanudi,  Dennis Chembezi,  Nickson Mwase and Alick Lungu formed the back four

Captain John Banda led the midfield  alongside Chimwemwe Idana,  Yamikani Chester and Chawanangwa Kaonga, while Richard Mbulu partnered Lanjesi up front.

In the second half, Mabedi  brought in Chifundo Mphasi,  Lloyd Njaliwa an Gaddie Chirwa for Idana,  Kaonga and Mbulu.

After the match,  Mabedi said he was satisfied with the performance of the team ahead of the Ethiopia match.

“That was a good game and I am very happy with the progress of the team.  We  have not been playing together and we have to  understand that Mozambique have been playing together but we matched them and we were even better in terms of  tactical and technical awareness, ” Mabedi said

“Football is like fixing the road,  the rain will mess up and you have to fix it again. We stil need to work on certain areas  know how we conceded the goal but  we have learnt. We need to improve our game day by day,” he added.

The Flames are third in Group D with three points from four matches.  Egypt top the group with nine points at par with Guinea.  The two teams will face each other later tonight. Ethiopia are bottom with three points from four matches.

Malawi will face Guinea in the last match of the Afcon qualifiers at home in September this year.