Flames midfielder Lloyd Aaron is set to miss the upcoming 2026 World Cup Group H qualifier against Namibia after receiving a red card in the Malawi National Football Team’s 2-0 defeat away to Tunisia in March.
The Qatar-based defensive midfielder was given a straight red in the 77th minute following a crude tackle on a Tunisian player.
Nevertheless, Flames coach Kallisto Pasuwa has included him in his 26-member squad for the Liberia match on September 8.
According to the 2026 Fifa World Cup regulations, a player shown a red card is automatically suspended for the next match.
Article 6.5 of the rules reads in part: “If players or team officials are sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card, they will be automatically suspended from their subsequent match. In addition, further sanctions may be imposed by the Fifa Disciplinary Committee.”
Football Association of Malawi competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka confirmed Aaron’s suspension.
“But he is available for the home match against Liberia. I guess that’s why the coach decided to include him in the squad,” he said.
On Tuesday, Pasuwa named a 26-member squad for the two fixtures, keeping most of the players who featured in the March qualifiers.
Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles lead Group H with 16 points, followed by Namibia with 12. Liberia are third with 10 points, Equatorial Guinea are fourth with seven points and Malawi are fifth while sixth-placed São Tomé and Príncipe are bottom with no points.
