Malawi national football team, the Flames face Senegal’s Lions of Teranga in a 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier at Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Dakar, Senegal on Friday night.

After losing the opening two fixtures in group L against Burundi and Burkina, the Flames will hope to get a positive result against the former African champions to revive their qualification chances.

The Flames lost 3-2 to Burundi at Bingu National Stadium before another 3-1 defeat at the hands of Burkina Faso in Bamako, Mali.

The Flames are bottom in Group L without a point. Burkina Faso top the group with points from two matches, above second-placed Senegal on goal difference.

Burundi are third in the group with three points from two matches. Despite poor start to the qualifiers, there is renewed hope in Flames camp that they can revive their qualifications dream.

Flames coach Patrick Mabedi said playing against one of the top ranked teams in Africa, is a big motivation.

“We know that Senegal with big players, big names but at the end of the day it will be 11 against 11, the same players. But it is about who wants it most.

” I prefer to play against big teams where you know mentally, you have to be prepared that you play against best, so you need to work extra hard. We need to come with a proper plan so that we go out there and try our best,” said Mabedi.

Mabedi admitted that to get all the points away from home, it will not be a stroll in the pack.

“We know, we don’t have points and we are playing against a good team so we need to dig deeper so that we can have points. It will not be easy but the win will be very important for us,” said Mabedi.

Mabedi named a 20-member squad ahead of the match. Two goalkeepers Brighton Munthali and George Chikooka have made the trip.

Captain John Banda, Yamikani Chester, Lloyd Njaliwa, Dennis Chembezi, Lanjesi Nkhoma, Patrick Mwaungulu, Chawanangwa Kaonga and Robert Saizi are also part of the squad.

Malawi and Senegal last met in 2022 during the delayed Afcon finals in Cameroon. The match ended goal-less.

But the two teams have met four times since 1987, but the Flames have won one match, two losses and one draw.

Malawi beat Senegal 2-0 during the  1987 All Africa Games before the Lions of Teranga defeated the Flames 3-2 in an international friendly match in Blantyre in 2007.

They also met during the 2021 Cosafa Cup but Senegal triumphed 2-1 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in South Africa.