The action resumes in Group L of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as Burundi and Malawi go head to head at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Thursday.
Having endured a disappointing campaign, both nations have already been eliminated from their qualifying race and will be playing for pride at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.
Match preview
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Burundi suffered a consecutive defeat against Burkina Faso in the AFCON qualifying double-header on October 13 when they were beaten 2-0 by the Stallions at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.
Having lost 4-1 at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpe Olympic Stadium three days earlier, Mohamed Konate and Ajax forward Bertrand Traore scored in either half to inspire Burkina Faso to a third straight win in Group L.
Patrick Sangwa's men have now lost each of their last three matches, losing against Senegal and Burkina Faso while conceding seven goals and scoring once since kicking off the campaign with a 3-2 victory over Malawi on September 5.
Burundi, who have failed to feature in the AFCON since their group-stage exit in 2019, will also miss out in Morocco next year as they sit third in the group table, seven points adrift of second-placed Senegal with just two games to go.
Playing for pride at the Bingu National Stadium, Malawi were left spitting feathers in the AFCON qualifiers last time out as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Senegal after conceding the winner with the last significant kick of the game.
The Flames turned in a solid defensive performance to repel Senegal for most of the game but former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane struck in the 96th minute to hand the 2021 African champions all three points.
This was a second consecutive AFCON qualifying defeat against Senegal for Malawi, who were thrashed 4-0 when the two nations met in the first of their Group L double-header on October 10 courtesy of goals from Pape Gueye, Boulaye Dia, Nicolas Jackson and Mane.
Currently 134th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, Patrick Mabedi's men head into Thursday's clash as one of just three sides yet to taste victory in the qualifiers, having lost each of their four games to sit rock-bottom in Group L.
Malawi's underwhelming qualifying campaign has been owing to their struggles at the defensive end of the pitch, where they have conceded 11 goals so far — only Central African Republic have allowed more (12).
Team News
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Burundi have called up 22 players for the qualifying matches against Malawi and Burkina Faso, with Abedi Bigirimana, Bienvenue Kanakimana and Nice defender Youssouf Ndayishimiye headlining the squad.
Al-Hilal Omdurman man Jean Claude Girumugisha should team up with Mokono Eldhino and Jablonec forward Kanakimana in attack while Ndayishimiye and Frederic Nsabiyumva should form the centre-back pairing.
Malawi have named a 25-man squad for November's qualifiers, including the Mighty Mukuru Wanderers quartet of Thole William, Wisdom Mpinganjira Timothy Silwimba and forward Gadi Chirwa.
Thole should start between the sticks once again while we expect McDonald Lameck, Nickson Mwale, Denis Chembezi and Silwimba to retain their roles in the back four following their solid display against Senegal in October.
John Banda, who boasts 88 senior caps since his debut in November 2011, should team up with Mpinganjira and Lanjesi Nkhoma in the centre of the park while Chirwa and 22-year-old Patrick Mwaungulu should lead the attack.
Burundi possible starting lineup:
Nahimana; Keita, Ndayishimiye, Nsabiyumva, Marco; Bigirimana, Eldinho, Jordi; Girumugisha, Eldhino, Kanakimana
Malawi possible starting lineup:
Thole: Lameck, Mwale, Chembezi. Silwimba: Mpinganjira, Banda, Nkhoma, Njaliwa; Chirwa, Mwaungulu
We say: Burundi 1-1 Malawi
While Thursday's game is nothing but a dead rubber for both Burundi and Malawi, we expect both sides to go all out to secure bragging rights. However, both sides are evenly matched on paper and we predict that they will cancel out each other's efforts at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
