Flames coach Kallisto Pasuwa now has a full squad for Friday’s Group H 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Namibia’s Brave Warriors in Francistown, Botswana and Lone Star of Liberia on September 8 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
Romania-based defender Charles Petro yesterday completed the squad.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka in an interview yesterday said Petro’s arrival means Pasuwa has 100 percent turnout.
He said: “The coach now has a full squad ready for the two 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers. The arrival of all players called into camp gives u confidence that we should be able to collect full points.”
The Flames, however, are out of contention in the group which also has Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe as well as Tunisia.
The Carthage Eagles lead the pool with 16 points followed by Brave warriors with 12. Lone Star are third with 10 points, Equatorial Guinea are fourth with seven and the Flames fifth with six. São Tomé and Príncipe sit bottom with no points.
But Pasuwa in an interview after announcing his squad said his focuss is on rebuilding the team and winning is also a top priority.
“No coach can go into a match thinking of losing,” he said.
Meanwhile, FCB Nyasa Bullets striker Babatunde Adepoju yesterday completed the process of obtaining Malawian citizenship.
He said: “Yes, Babatunde is now a Malawian. He is eligible to play for Malawi.
“But that is now up to the coach and of course subject to getting a passport because that is a required document for one to play for a national team according to Fifa.”
Malawi’s locally-based players already assembled in Lilongwe last week and they were first joined by US-based Mayele Malango on his debut line up.
Democratic Republic of Congo’s TP Mazembe duo of Patrick Mwaungulu and Lanjesi Nkhoma, both currently in their off-season, followed.
The contingent expanded on Monday with the arrival of Henri Kumwenda of USA’s Butler Men’s Soccer FC, South Africa-based Gabadinho Mhango (Richards Bay), Mozambique-based duo of Costa Do Sol’s Richard Mbulu and Lloyd Njaliwa.
Next was the Zimbabwe-based entourage comprising Simba Bhora goalkeeper William Thole, FC Platinum’s Nickson Nyasulu and Gomezgani Chirwa joins from Ngezi Platinum.
Iraq-based Dennis Chembezi, who plays for Al Qasim FC and Japan-based Washali Jaziya (Nankatsu FC) also joined the squad the same day alongside Zambia-based Zanaco duo of Chawanangwa Kawonga and Robert Saizi.
Qatar-based Lloyd Aaron, who recently signed for Muaither SC, is also in camp although he is suspended for the Namibia tie.
