Malawi reignited their 2026 World Cup qualification hopes with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Sao Tome e Principe in Lilongwe on Thursday, CAFonline reports.

The Flames, who had endured a slow start to their Group H campaign, burst into life courtesy of goals from Kaonga Chawanangwa, Nkhoma Lanjesi, and Mphasi Chifundo to claim a crucial three points.

Chawanangwa set the hosts on their way with the opener after just six minutes, calmly slotting home after being played through on goal.

Lanjesi doubled Malawi’s advantage eight minutes later, rifling a low drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Sao Tome e Principe showed signs of life in the second half, with Silva Denilson reducing the deficit in the 67th minute with a well-taken strike.

However, any hopes of an unlikely comeback were extinguished 11 minutes later when Chifundo restored Malawi’s two-goal cushion with a neat finish.

The result moves the Flames into third place in Group H on six points one behind second-placed Namibia.

But they all trail leaders Tunisia, who maintained their perfect start with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday, to stay top with maximum points.

For Sao Tome e Principe, the defeat leaves them rooted to the bottom of the group without a point from their opening three matches, their World Cup dream fading.

With the crucial clash against Equatorial Guinea on the horizon on Monday, the Flames have reignited their hopes of securing a place at the 2026 showpiece in North America.