Bingu stadium gets full nod
Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved Bingu National Stadium (BNS) to host 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers scheduled for September to November.
The development means the Flames, are assured of playing their Group L Afcon qualifiers at the venue.
Initially, the continental football governing body approved the stadium to only host 2024/25 CAF Champions League first preliminary round qualifier between FCB Nyasa Bullets and Red Arrows of Zambia on condition that the pitch is maintained and improved.
Sao Tome and Principe at BNS in a World Cup qualifier in June this year
However, in a communication to the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), CAF yesterday gave the stadium the green light to host the Afcon qualifiers as well.
FAM club licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale confirmed the development in an interview yesterday.
“It’s confirmed. Malawi will play Afcon qualifiers at Bingu National Stadium following CAF’s approval,” he said.
Following a draw held last month, the Flames are in the same group with 2021 Afcon Champions Senegal’s Lions of Teranga, Burkina Faso’s Stallions and The Swallows of Burundi.
Meanwhile, Burundi has also opted to play their home matches at BNS after their stadiums failed to meet CAF requirements.
Malawi will host Burundi on September 5 before flying to Ouagadougou to face Burkina Faso five days later at March 26 Stadium.
Meanwhile, Burundi will remain in Malawi to host Senegal on September 9.
Jangale said Burundi might have opted for the BNS following massive support they got in their one-all draw against Kenya in June in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at the venue.
He said: “There is a large Burundian community in the country. They gave their team massive support during the World Cup qualifiers. I am not surprised that they have opted to come back and play their home matches here.”
Ironically, Kenya’s Harambee Stars, who chose BNS for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, are yet to confirm if they will still use the facility for the Afcon matches.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Youth and Sports spokesperson MacMillan Mwale has said CAF’s decision to approve the stadium is good news to the country.
He, however, pleaded with football fans to avoid vandalising the facility as it hosts matches.
Said Mwale: “Football fans are key stakeholders in sport facilities’ management and it is important for them to ensure that their conduct does not lead to damages.
“If a stadium is banned, it becomes a loss to the entire country; hence, the need to jealously protect what we have.”
Football analyst Charles Nyirenda said the stadium’s approval is a big boost for the Flames.
“What we need to do now is to ensure that we utilise home ground advantage.”
Malawi was in the last edition in the same group with Ethiopia, Egypt and Guinea, but failed to qualify for the final held in Ivory Coast in February this year, which the hosts won.
