Malawi coach Patrick Mabedi says the game against Zambia gives the team the chance to amend things and give back happiness to the Malawians.

Mabedi was speaking on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s showdown against their neighbors, Chipolopolo as they are battling off for the third-place finish in the four-Nation Tournament.

“I think the players know the importance of this match, we have to come back and it’s not important to lose at home. We disappointed a lot of people in the country, so it’s time to bounce back,” said Mabedi.

Since beating Ethiopia in 2022, Malawi are yet to win at Bingu National Stadium, losing 4-0 to Egypt, and Kenya, 1-0 to Tunisia, and drawing against Guinea. Commenting on the humbling defeat to Kenya, Mabedi says he is trying to have different combinations with the new players that he has called in.

“We already have a team but we want to try different combinations, for example, we changed two positions at the back, so when you change your defence, you pay for it,” he said, adding: “We have three central defenders, Dennis Chembezi, Nixon Mwase and Lawrence Chaziya, so any injury to one of these we will be in trouble, that’s why we are trying to bring in other players.

“Against Kenya, we gave away goals, and in history, we are a very good team defensively but we made what I can call school mistakes and they punished us.”

Zambia will be looking to bounce back also after a disappointing defeat to Zimbabwe in their opening game. They saw a 2-goal lead slipping off their hands before losing on post-match penalties. Kenya and Zimbabwe will battle for The Championship in a late kick-off game.