It was another below-par performance for the red, white and blue outfit, the Lone Star, as they were stunned 1-0 at home by the Flames of Malawi on the opening day in the group stage of the 2026 Federation International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup qualifiers. It’s now 19 years since the senior national team won its opening group match in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
It can be recalled that on June 4, 2004, the Lone Star coach Kadallah Kromah, alias Scientific, defeated a star-studded Mali Eagles 1-0 at the SKD in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the opening group match, with the goal from Cypriot based front man, Alvin “Power” Kieh.
Under Coach Ansu “The Process” Keita, the team was ordinary and awful, to the disappointment of the Lone Star faithful.
It’s not getting better but worse and the glass seems half empty rather than half full. Much clearing up is needed as the Lone Star minnow status on the continent remains.
As of the loss to the Flames of Malawi, who secured their first-ever win against the Lone Star and scored their first-ever goal as well after 34 years, the Lone Star has now played 65 matches in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers since the 1982 qualifiers, recording 17 wins, 12 draws and 36 defeats.
They have scored 44 goals and conceded 91, from December 7, 1980 to November 17, 2023, the 1982 qualifiers to the ongoing 2026 qualifiers.
The National Thunders of Equatorial Guinea are guests of the Lone Star in Round Two of the qualifiers on Monday at the SKD.
The visitors have never lost to the Lone Star in three outings, with two wins in Malabo and a draw at the ATS.
