Malawi made it two wins from two in the 2023 Cosafa Cup after they beat Seychelles 2-0 at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban on Sunday evening.
Second-half goals from Lanjesi Nkhoma and Christopher Kumwembe maintained the Flames' 100 per cent record in Group B as they pulled three points clear of Comoros and defending champions Zambia.
The Pirates bring up the rear following two successive defeats, having gone down 3-0 the Coelacanths in their group opener on Thursday, with Patrick Mabedi's side stunning the Copper Bullets 1-0.
Malawi wasted little time in putting the opposition under pressure as Kumwembe steered a header wide of the right post on five minutes after getting on the end of Nkhoma's cross from the left.
Nkhoma then drew a comfortable save out of Jean Paul Lesperance with a strike from a long way out on nine minutes, while Brandon Labrosse tested Brighton Munthali from range in a rare attack from Seychelles in the 17th minute.
Kumwembe was just inches away from breaking the deadlock with a low shot from outside the box that fizzed narrowly past the left post on 29 minutes and Chawanangwa Kaonga forced Lesperance into a save with his feet two minutes later after advancing into the box with a few silky touches.
Lesperance ensured the two teams would go into the break all-square after he made a smart save at point-blank range to deny Kumwembe at his near post following good work from Nkhoma on the left to swing in a low cross.
Nkhoma threatened again seven minutes into the second half as he cut inside from the left after being played into space and lashed a shot over the crossbar.
But the pressure finally told three minutes later when Kaonga showed good strength to brush off his marker on the right before sending a cross to the back post where Nkhoma headed past substitute keeper Alvin Michel to open the scoring.
Nkhoma also had a hand in the second goal 10 minutes later after his initial shot from an angle on the left wasn't dealt with by Michel and Kumwembe had the simple task of tapping home from close range to seal the win.
Malawi (0) 2 (Nkhoma 55', Kumwembe 65')
Seychelles (0) 0
Malawi: B. Munthali, S. Sanudi, N. Mwase, D. Chembezi, R. Saiz (P. Mwaungulu 49'), C. Idana, L. Aaron, A. Lungu, L. Nkhoma (C. Mapemba 82'), C. Kaonga (F. Willard 86'), C. Kumwembe.
Seychelles: J. Lesperance (A. Michel 46'), J. Mathiot (R. Pascal 36'), W. Mellie, D. Balette, D. Fanchette, C. Hopprich (G. Vidot 5'), K. Nourrice, D. Louise (N. Confiance 78'), T. Camille, B. Labrosse (J. Ravignia 78'), D. Mothe.