Malawi - South Sudan

Malawi prepare for their Africa Cup of Nations qualification matchday 1 opener against South Sudan on 25 September 2026. The hosts look to build upon their historical success in this fixture, having secured a narrow 1-0 victory against the same opponents during their previous qualification cycle on 24 March 2021. With the group stage now underway, consistency will be the primary objective for the home side as they aim to establish an early foothold in the standings.

South Sudan arrive as the visitors, seeking to overturn their recent struggles against Malawi. Their previous encounter on 13 November 2019 also resulted in a 1-0 defeat, highlighting the defensive challenges they have faced when meeting this opposition. As both teams look to start their campaign with a positive result, the ability to break down a resilient structure will likely define the outcome of this contest.