Malawi secure first-leg victory over Comoros in CHAN 2025 qualifiers

Malawi claimed a crucial advantage in the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers with a 2-0 victory over Comoros in their first-round encounter on Sunday.

The Flames took control of the match with a goal in each half, leaving Comoros with an uphill battle in the return leg.

Malawi make the most of home advantage

With Comoros unable to host the match due to stadium regulations, the game was played at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, effectively giving Malawi a home advantage.

The Flames capitalized on the familiar conditions, showing greater efficiency in front of goal.

Binwell Katinji opened the scoring in the 43rd minute, giving Malawi a deserved lead just before halftime.

Comoros struggled to create clear-cut chances in the second half, and their hopes of salvaging a draw were dashed in the 90th minute when Zebron Kalima doubled Malawi’s advantage.

Comoros face an uphill task in second leg

The Coelacanths A’, who had aimed to secure a positive result in this first leg, now find themselves in a difficult position ahead of the return fixture.

With a two-goal deficit, they will need a strong performance in the second leg on March 8 if they hope to turn the tie around and advance to the next round of the qualifiers.

This result puts Malawi in a commanding position, as they now have the luxury of managing their advantage away from home. Meanwhile, Comoros will need a significant response in the second leg to keep their CHAN 2025 hopes alive.