Malawi secured their place in the second round of the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers with a dominant aggregate victory over Comoros.
Having won 2-0 in the first leg, the Flames replicated the scoreline in Saturday’s return fixture to progress with a 4-0 overall triumph.
The Malawians will now face the winner of the tie between Egypt and South Africa, who played to a 1-1 draw in their first encounter.
Gambia Triumphs in Shootout to Set Up Algeria Clash
In another decisive fixture, Gambia edged past Gabon on penalties after both legs ended in goalless stalemates. The second leg, played at the Franceville Stadium, produced no goals in regulation time, forcing the match into a tense shootout.
The Gambians held their nerve, converting all five of their penalties, while Gabon missed one attempt, resulting in a 5-4 victory in the shootout.
With this result, Gambia will now take on Algeria in the next round. The North Africans, led by coach Madjid Bougherra, were given a bye in the first phase due to their status as runners-up in the previous edition of the tournament.
Next Round Fixtures
The second-round fixtures are scheduled for early May, with the first legs set to take place between May 2 and 4, followed by the return legs from May 9 to 11.
This stage will determine the final two teams that will qualify for the tournament’s group phase, where Uganda, Niger, and Guinea have already secured their spots in Group C.
#Update
Malawi National Men’s Football Team has advanced to the final stage of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) playoffs after securing a 2-0 victory over Comoros at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, sealing a 4-0 aggregate win.📷: FAM pic.twitter.com/kTTHRycFlU
— MBC Digital (@MBC_Digital247) March 8, 2025