Five rookies could earn Flames’ caps
At least Five players have a chance of earning their first caps when the Flames host Guinea in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier this Saturday at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
Defenders Yamikani Mologeni of Bangwe All Stars and Silver Strikers’ Tatenda M’balaka alongside midfielders Chikondi Kamanga of Silver Strikers, Ekwendeni Hammers’ Wongani Lungu and Wisdom Mpinganjira of Mighty Mukuru Wanderers have a chance of making their first Malawi National Football Team appearances having made Flames coach Patrick Mabedi’s final 27-member squad.
Of these, only Mologeni and M’balaka have been called up for the first time.
In an interview, football pundit Kevin Moyo said being a formality match some of the uncapped players could get a run.
He said: “Since the Flames are out of contention for qualification, Mabedi could be tempted to field some of them. After all, he has made it clear that his emphasis is building a team for the future.
“But then, he is developing a future Flames side by incorporating younger players, the question is what guarantee does he have that he will be employed as the next national team coach?.”
On his part, Mabedi said: “We need to understand the purpose of this match and where we are going.
“We also need to understand that we need to give the new players a chance to develop and see how far they can go. We need to give players that have shown promise a chance.”
