The Flames have qualifed for the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup semi-finals for the first time in 20 years after a deserved 2-0 victory over Comoros at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
They have done it style by winning all their Group matches as well as clean sheets, for the first time ever.
Malawi beat defending champions Zambia 1-0 in the opening match and Seychelles 2-0 in the second match.
Although they needed just a point in the last match, the Flames went all the way and punished the islanders 2-0 to collect maximum points in the group stage.
Goals from Chawangwa Kaonga from a 30th minute penalty and and Patrick Mwaungulu’s perfect finish in the 36th minute set the mood for the party as the Flames confirmed their place in the last four.
The Flames have also went a mile far by producing Man of the Match winners in the three group matches.
In the first game, leftback Alick Lungu was named the most outstanding player against Zambia.
Kaonga grabbed the accolade in the second against Seychelles while Mwawungulu won it in the last pool match.
Yet this is a squad that have players who barely have international experience.
Coach Patrick Mabedi said his players had proved wrong critics who were against his idea of taking up-and-coming players to the tournament.
He said: “I am a very happy person. These are the players that were never given a benefit of a doubt to perfom like this.
“But they have fought hard to reach this stage. Look, some of us never made it to this stage in our time.
“But this generation has done it. They have even surpassed what others achieved at the tournament.”
WHAT NEXT FOR MALAWI?
The semi-finals list is not yet complete. But Malawi’s opponents have been confirmed.
The Flames face Lesotho in the semi-finals on Friday.
Likuena have won Group C with six points, with a game to play after beating Mauritius and Lesotho.
They face Angola in their last pool stage on Wednesday.
South Africa have also qualified as Group A leaders after beating Eswatini 2-1 in their last pool match to top the table with seven points.
The last semi-finalist, who will be a team that finishes as best losers, will also be known on Wednesday when Group C wraps up the pool matches.
Group B runners up Zambia, who finished with six points after beating Seychelles 4-2, are waiting for the results from Group C.
Mauritius, who face Mozambique have a chance of clinching the best losers position at six points if they win with more than three goals without conceding.
Malawi First XI
Munthali (GK), Sanudi (C), Chembezi, Nyasulu, Lungu, Aaron, Idana (Singini), Lanjesi, Mwaungulu (Mphasi), Kaonga (Willard), Kumwembe (Chirwa)
