By Suleman Chitera
Malawi’s national football team, the Flames, has suffered a stunning 1–0 defeat to São Tomé and Príncipe in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match played in Tunisia on Monday.
The loss marks a historic moment for São Tomé, as this is their first-ever victory in a World Cup qualifying campaign. The result has sent shockwaves through Malawi’s football community, with many fans expressing disappointment and disbelief.
A Painful End to the Flames’ Campaign
Despite high hopes from supporters across the nation, the Flames failed to capitalize on their chances and ended their qualification campaign on a sour note.
São Tomé, who had previously lost all their matches in the qualifiers, took a surprise lead and managed to hold on to their advantage until the final whistle.
This defeat means Malawi will return home empty-handed, with fans questioning the team’s performance and tactical approach throughout the qualifiers.
Awaiting FIFA Ruling on Unplayed Fixture
The Flames’ qualifying journey is not fully over, as they await FIFA’s ruling on the unplayed fixture against Equatorial Guinea at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe last week.
The match was called off after the Equatorial Guinea team failed to travel to Malawi. The decision by FIFA could have implications on Malawi’s final standing in the group, although the loss to São Tomé has significantly dampened hopes.
Fans React with Disappointment
Across social media platforms, Malawians have expressed frustration over the team’s inconsistency and poor finishing.
“This is embarrassing. How can we lose to a team that has never won a World Cup qualifier?” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Others have called for restructuring within the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and better investment in youth development to avoid such results in future tournaments.
Final Score
São Tomé and Príncipe 1 – 0 Malawi
