Substitute Billy Daka scored twice in the closing stages as Zambia beat Malawi 2-0 on Friday night — a breakthrough performance that turned a stubborn friendly into a statement.
For more than an hour the Flames' low block frustrated the Chipolopolo, who dominated possession without finding the finish. The introduction of Daka changed the geometry: his movement stretched Malawi's tiring back line, and he converted twice late to seal a scoreline that matched Zambia's superiority.
The result continues a quietly encouraging build-up under the technical bench ahead of the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign, with the squad's European-based core increasingly supplemented by local talent making cases for permanent places — Daka foremost among them after this cameo.
For Malawi, the defeat extends a difficult run against Zambia, but their organisation for seventy minutes will give their coach something to build on. For the home crowd, it was simply a Friday night that ended the way it should.
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