Egypt thrash Malawi 5-0 in Afcon qualifier
Malawi's Flames conceded five goals in Cairo, exposing defensive and midfield frailties.
Egypt defeated Malawi 5-0 in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Cairo on Friday, November 13, 2026. Nasser Maher opened the scoring in the sixth minute, followed by Omar Marmoush in the tenth and Mohamed Hany in the 39th. Mohamed Salah added two more goals, one from a penalty in stoppage time, to complete the rout.
The Flames conceded two goals within the first 10 minutes, disrupting their tactical plan. Egypt's technical players controlled the midfield tempo, while Malawi struggled with physical presence and winning second balls. Richard Mbulu tested Egypt's goalkeeper in the 22nd minute, but his effort was saved. Coach Kalisto Pasuwa stated, "We made mistakes and we were punished. We respected them too much and ended up conceding too many goals."
Malawi's qualification hopes for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations are now in doubt following the heavy defeat. The team struggled to combine and support their striker in the final third. Pasuwa made five changes to the lineup that faced Angola, but the reshuffle failed to contain Egypt's pace and movement.
Why it mattersMalawi's national football team suffered a significant defeat, impacting their chances of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.