Malawi 0 Lesotho 1 ( Ntaitsame 82′)
Malawi got their 2025 Hollywoodbets COSAFA campaign off to a disappointing start after going down 0-1 to Lesotho at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Thursday afternoon.
Makara Ntaitsane scored the lone goal of the match eight minutes from full time.
Hoping to kick off the tournament on a positive note, Malawi began brightly, dominating possession but failed to test Lesotho goalkeeper Mosoeu Seahlolo.
Lesotho’s first opportunity came from a set-piece after Timothy Silwimba conceded a free-kick, but George Chikooka remained untested in the Flames’ goal.
Malawi pushed for a breakthrough with flankers Wisdom Mpinganjira and Chikumbutso Salima delivering inviting crosses into the box, but striker Zeliati Nkhoma couldn’t connect with any of them.
After a goalless first half, Lesotho started the second half more assertively, but Malawi’s defense led by Blessings Mpokera, Maxwell Paipi, McDonald Lameck, and Timothy Silwimba stood strong to keep the opponents at bay.
Malawi suffered a blow when captain Maxwell Paipi limped off injured and was replaced by Andrew Jovinala.
Zeliati Nkhoma also made way for Promise Kamwendo in the 58th minute.
Lameck and Chawanangwa Gumbo combined well on the right before the Silver Strikers fullback swung in a dangerous ball, but the Lesotho goalkeeper was alert to clear the danger at 64 minutes.
As Malawi pushed for a goal, Lesotho struck against the run of play on 70 minutes.
Ntaitsane beat the offside trap from a set-piece and powered home the winner.
The goal was subjected to a three-minute Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review but was eventually allowed to stand.
As the Flames chased an equaliser coach Pasuwa In made late changes with Gaddie Chirwa replacing Silwimba, and Blessings Singini coming on for Wongani Lungu, but Lesotho held firm to secure the narrow victory.
Speaking after the match, Flames assistant coach Peter Mponda attributed the defeat to a lapse in concentration late in the game.
“It was a well-balanced game with not many chances for both teams. In terms of possession, I feel we were good, but we were slow going forward. We didn’t have enough numbers to convert our possession into chances.
“Unfortunately, we lost it at the very end because of a loss of concentration. We could have defended better—our defenders all went for one ball, and the deflection fell to Lesotho. It’s painful, but we have to go back and figure out how to dig ourselves out of the situation we’re in now,” said Mponda.
Malawi will return to action on Sunday afternoon when they face Namibia, who drew 1-1 against Angola in the other Group B fixture.
LINE UP
George Chikooka (GK), McDonald Lameck, Timothy Silwimba (Gaddie Chirwa 85′), Maxwell Paipi (Promise kamwendo 61′) Blessings Mpokera, Wisdom Mpinganjira, Yankho Singo, Zeliati Nkhoma (Andrew Jovinala 61′), Chikumbutso Salima, Wongani Lungu (Blessings Singini 85′ ), Chawanangwa Gumbo.
Unsused Subs: Emmanuel Nyirenda, Olson kanjira, Fanizo Mwansambo
Charles Nkhoma, Richard Chimbamba
