Pasuwa’s stunning admission: qualify or get sacked, says under-pressure Flames coach

Malawi coach Callisto Pasuwa has made the stunning admission that his job hangs by a thread — with qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations now the difference between survival and the sack.

The Zimbabwean, who signed a two-year contract as Flames boss in February last year, was tasked with steering Malawi to the 2027 Afcon finals and winning the Cosafa Cup within two years of taking charge.

But with the Cosafa Cup now uncertain this year, all eyes have turned to the Afcon qualifiers — and Pasuwa isn’t hiding from the pressure.

Unveiling his provisional squad for the upcoming qualifiers, the beleaguered coach candidly admitted his future depends on results.

“I cannot be here talking when I have all these people when I am not confident. I am very confident to say that we are going to represent, hence also my job is at stake. If I am not confident, we will not qualify so I need to be very confident,” Pasuwa said.

The admission comes at a torrid time for the coach, who has faced mounting criticism from furious fans after a dismal run of results across all competitions left the Flames without a win in five consecutive matches.

Malawi have been drawn in Group B of the Afcon qualifiers and kick off their campaign against South Sudan on 25 September at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, before travelling to Angola for their second match on 6 October.

Those opening two fixtures are expected to be pivotal for the Flames’ qualification hopes. Malawi will then face Egypt in back-to-back November clashes, before rounding off the campaign at home against South Sudan and Angola next year.

With his contract clock ticking and fans growing restless, Pasuwa now knows there is nowhere left to hide — qualification, or the axe.