The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture has expressed optimism that Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe will once again meet the Confederation of African Football (CAF) minimum requirements to host international matches.
The ministry’s spokesperson, McMillan Mwale said this in an interview yesterday after an inspection of the facility, adding that government had invested heavily to ensure the stadium is ready for the assessment.
The inspection forms part of CAF’s stadium approval process which requires venues to meet minimum standards in infrastructure, safety and security, lighting, media facilities, medical services and other operational areas before they are cleared to host continental competitions.
BNS is expected to host Mighty Wanderers’ CAF Champions League fixtures and the Flames’ 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers from October.
Mwale said the ministry closed the main pitch to allow improvements in all areas that required attention.
He said: “We invested a lot to ensure the facility is in good shape ahead of the inspection. We have done a lot. The pitch is in perfect condition.
“We have also improved the lighting. Everything is in order. We are confident that the facility will once again get the grade to host international matches.”
In May, electricity was disconnected at BNS due to an outstanding bill of K171 million.
However, Mwale said the facility now uses prepaid water and electricity billing meters for its operations.
He said: “We have water as well as electricity now. Of course, we have some arrears, but those are from way back. We still pay the arrears whenever funding is made available.
“But for events, we use prepaid metres for both water and electricity. We either buy the units or the event organisers buy them themselves.”
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) club licensing and competitions manager Clement Kafwafwa said after the inspection, a report would be submitted to CAF.
“Malawi was given July 9 for inspections and July 10 for the report to be submitted to CAF,” he said.
Kafwafwa also expressed confidence that the facility would meet CAF standards.
He said: “When the facility was closed, we guided the ministry on the areas that needed attention.
“We are optimistic that CAF will approve the stadium to host matches. The most critical areas are okay. The pitch is in good condition.”
Meanwhile, the ministry has resumed renovations at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre ahead of inviting FAM to conduct an inspection.
Said Mwale: “As you are aware, FAM’s report mentioned a number of areas that needed attention. We started working on those areas in April. But unfortunately, we had to host our colleagues returning from South Africa, which disrupted the process.
“Now that we are no longer hosting them, we have resumed the renovations on the areas the ministry can handle on its own.
“However, there are other areas the ministry cannot do. For example, the FAM report mentioned the need for the facility to undergo a structural assessment.
“That has to be conducted by officials from the Ministry of Transport and Public Works. Once they do that, we will call FAM to carry out the inspection.”
