Flames coach Kallisto Pasuwa has named a strong squad for the upcoming Mukuru Four Nations Tournament in Francistown, Botswana, handing a maiden call-up to Germany-based Under-20 star Mwisho Mhango.
The youngster, who turns out for Hannover 96, was the standout inclusion when Pasuwa unveiled the squad during a press conference in Blantyre on Tuesday for the competition to be played at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium.
Mwisho, who was named Player of the Tournament and Golden Boot winner at the 2025 Cosafa Under-20 Championship in South Africa, headlines a squad that largely retains the core of foreign-based players.
Among the seasoned campaigners are Chikumbutso Salima, Lloyd Aaron, Robert Saizi, Chawanangwa Kaonga, Lloyd Njaliwa, William Thole, Nickson Nyasulu, Maxwell Paipi, Charles Petro, Richard Mbulu, Wisdom Mpinganjira, Patrick Mwaungulu, Mayele Malango and Babatunde Adepoju.
However, the Flames will be without some key players, including Frank Gabadinho Mhango, Chifundo Mphasi and Lanjesi Nkhoma due to injuries. Iran-based defender Dennis Chembezi has also failed to join the squad due to travel complications linked to tensions in the Middle East.
The locally-based contingent includes goalkeepers George Chikooka and Joshua Waka., defenders MacDonald Lameck and Emmanuel Nyirenda, midfielders Yankho Singo and Chawanangwa Gumbo as well as forwards Ephraim Kondowe, Festus Duwe and Gaddie Chirwa.
Meanwhile, the tournament draw conducted in Botswana and broadcast live on SuperSport has paired Malawi with Zambia’s Chipolopolo in the semi-finals. Hosts Botswana’s Zebras will face Zimbabwe’s Warriors in the other last-four encounter.
The winners will meet in the final while the losers will contest the third-place play-off.
Zambia are expected to field a second-string side composed mainly of fringe and Under-23 players, according to the Football Association of Zambia.
Zambia’s head coach George Lwandamina will lead the senior team against Argentina on March 31, leaving assistant Osward Mutapa in charge of the squad for the regional tournament.
But Pasuwa has dismissed any suggestion that Zambia’s squad composition will make the tie easier.
“Everyone knows Zambia have been a football powerhouse in the region for a long time. We don’t even care that they are bringing local players. What we know is that we are playing Zambia,” he said.
“The moment we say they are bringing local players, it becomes a problem. We are playing Zambia and we want to raise our heads and get results.”
The Flames coach also downplayed remarks by Football Association of Malawi president Fleetwood Haiya that the time for rebuilding is over and results are now required.
“We are going to compete. Pressure is always there, whether you are training, playing or building a team,” said Pasuwa.
“At the end of the day, as a coach, you are responsible for results. So, yes, there is pressure and I have to manage it with my technical team.”
On his part, Zimbabwe coach Mario Marinica, a former Flames mentor, has assembled a near full-strength squad with only a few injury absentees while Botswana coach Morena Ramoreboli has named a 26-man squad drawn entirely from the domestic league.
The Four Nations Tournament returns after its inaugural edition in 2024 at Bingu National Stadium, where Malawi finished last following defeats to Kenya and Zambia.
