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 FAM justifies chan u-turn

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) will participate in TotalEnergies 2024 Africa Nations Championship (Chan) despite stating earlier the Flames would not take part due to lack of funds.

The draw conducted in Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday saw the surprise inclusion of Malawi after FAM had earlier announced that it would not be part of the competition.

Zakazaka: CAF extended invitations . | Nation

FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka in an interview yesterday said they got a special invitation from CAF to participate in the competition which initially was set for February 1 to 28 2025 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania but has been rescheduled to August 2025.

In a statement CAF said the tournament has been postponed to enable the hosts complete construction and upgrading of stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals and other infrastructure and facilities for the hosting of the tournament”.

The competition normally attracts 16 teams, but with three countries as hosts, the number has shot to 17 and CAF decided to make it a 19-team tournament, according to Zakazaka.

Group A has Kenya, Morocco, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia while Group B has Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Central African Republic. Senegal, Congo, Sudan and Nigeria are in Group C.

Malawi, South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Comoros, Gabon and the Gambia will now participate in play-offs to fill the two slots in Group C, alongside Uganda, Niger and Guinea.

 Said Zakazaka: “CAF extended invitations to countries that had withdrawn from the initial qualifiers to engage for the playoffs for the extra two slots.”

Asked if FAM now has funds available for the tournament, Zakazaka said the timing of the qualifiers gives them ample time to plan.

He said: “It’s good this is coming right at the beginning of our financial year and will be planned accordingly. Previously, the problem was that CAF announced about the tournament in June almost halfway into our financial year.”

Malawi has never qualified for the Chan tournament which was introduced in 2007 to promote local players.

In 2020, the Flames were knocked out by E-swatini after a 1-1 draw at Kamuzu Stadium. E-swatini who held Malawi to a goalless draw in Manzini qualified on away goal rule.

In 2022, Malawi failed to make it to the tournament’s final after being booted out by Mozambique.

The Flames were handed a lifeline to the second round following their first round opponents Zimbabwe’s Warriors suspension from international football by Fifa.

In the second round, Malawi were held 1-1 by Mozambique at Bingu National Stadium in July and the return leg at Zimpeto Stadium ended goalless for the young Mambas to qualify for the finals which will be held in Algeria.

Football analyst Charles Nyirenda called FAM to ensure the team prepares thoroughly for the play-offs.

CAF is yet to set the dates for the play-offs, keeping the participating teams guessing.

Zakazaka, however, said they are confident that this time Malawi will be

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