The Flames are hit with equipment challenges, including worn out match uniforms, training kits and substandard match balls, The Nation has established.
The development has forced players to come out and complain to Football Association of Malawi (FAM) on the need to look into the matter.
A recent report from a FAM executive committee member, who was leader of delegation during one of the Flames’ 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers, also highlighted on the Flames’ lack of equipment and called for immediate action.
The report reads in part: “Immediate attention is required for training equipment.
“The team’s attire, including casual, training and game uniforms has become worn out and needs replacement.
“The kit manager should ensure that the goalkeeper jerseys are properly fitted, as the current cut looks unprofessional.”
The report further states that the Flames use different match balls during training, which in turn may affect the players output during matches when they use Fifa or CAF official match balls.
“The team was using seven different footballs of varying weights, forcing players to request better balls for set pieces, which is unacceptable at the senior level,” the reports further reads.
The Flames poverty was exposed in the recent 2025 Afcon qualifiers where the team literary had one match uniform.
A downpour during the 2025 Afcon home qualifier against Senegal at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe left the players soaked and the uniform soiled.
While their opponents, the Lions of Teranga, changed their attire at half-time, the Flames had no choice but to continue with the muddy uniform in the second-half.
A senior player, who opted for anonymity, said they feel embarrassed using the equipment yet they are expected to deliver.
“It’s an issue that we have indeed raised with the FAM officials hopefully this will improve,” he said.
FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda referred The Nation to the association’s president Fleetwood Haiya who said: “It is surprising that the report or contents of it have been leaked before the ex-co [executive committee] meet. This is an internal report to the president.”
Technical sponsors usually supply equipment to the national teams. But the Flames currently have none as FAM uses their own apparel ‘the Moto brand’.
However, in the past FAM had technical sponsorship deals with International Sports Apparel Design Institute (Isadi), Puma and Adidas.
The sports apparel manufacturers were providing match kits, match balls, training uniforms and other football equipment.
In return, FAM was procuring Flames replica jerseys from them. However, all the deals collapsed due to contractual disagreements.
