Burundi move ‘home’ to Mali
Burundi National Football Team, The Swallows, will no longer use the Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe as home ground for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers, The Nation understands.
After hosting Senegal at BNS since their stadiums did not meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) minimum requirements, Burundi Football Federation has opted for the Swallows to play their match-day four qualifier against Burkina Faso’s Stallions in Bamako, Mali.
The Stallions, who are also playing their qualifiers in Bamako, will host Burundi on October 6 while Senegal’s Lions of Teranga will host Malawi in Dakar on October 7.
Burundi have opted to remain in Bamako to host the Stallions on October 14 while Malawi will head back home to play Senegal on October 16.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) competition and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka in an interview confirmed that the Burundians will not be coming back for Match Day Four qualifiers.
He said: “As you are aware, Burkina Faso are playing their matches in Mali since their stadiums did not meet CAF minimum requirements.
“So, Burundi have opted to play their home qualifier against Burkina Faso at the same venue rather than coming back to play them here.
“I think they are looking at the cost of flying all the way to Malawi to play their home match against Burkina Faso.”
The Swallows have been enjoying massive support at the Bingu National Stadium from their Malawi-based Burundian community and held Kenya, who also used the venue as their home, to a one-all draw in the 2025 World Cup qualifiers in November 2023.
They also stunned Malawi 3-2 in the 2025 Afcon qualifiers two weeks ago at the same venue.
The qualifiers will conclude in November with Burundi hosting Malawi while Burkina Faso will host Senegal.
Senegal will then be at home against Burundi while Malawi will wrap up the campaign by hosting Burkina Faso.
Zakazaka said they also anticipate Malawi’s away qualifier against Burundi to be played in West Africa.
“There are indications that Burundi will host us in Ivory Coast and remain in West Africa thereafter to play Senegal.”
Football analyst Charles Nyirenda said it was obvious that Burundi would not want to play their home match against Malawi at Bingu National Stadium.
He said: “It’s a strategy. Of course they manage to beat us at home. But they know playing their home match at the same venue will give us an advantage.”
