Flames in tight spot
Flames opponents in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers have engaged an extra gear in preparations while Football Association of Malawi (FAM) is keeping fingers crossed for a financial breakthrough to get down to work.
The Malawi National Football Team is scheduled to travel to Liberia to face the Lone Star in Monrovia before hosting the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia between November 13 and 23.
In a statement issued yesterday, FAM said its emergency committee resolved during a meeting on Saturday that the budgetary requirements for the two matches should be escalated to government this week for supplementary budget consideration.
The committee comprises the association’s president Walter Nyamilandu, first vice-president Jabbar Alide, second vice-president Othaniel Hara and executive committee member Chimango Munthali.
Reads the statement in part: “[This] was after it [the committee] was informed that there are no funds to support the Flames’ assignments.
“Subject to funding, the Flames are expected to go into camp next week.”
The Nation has established that FAM, through Malawi National Council of Sports, has submitted a K540 million budget for the two matches.
But in an interview yesterday, Minister of Youth and Sports Uchizi Mkandawire said they are still waiting for a response from Treasury on the issue.
“We already submitted the request to the Treasury and it needs to be approved by the Minister of Finance.
“But having foregone some competitions, we are of the view that they should get the funding. I like the spirit that FAM has displayed. They are trying their best, but it is now up to Treasury.”
But While a cloud of uncertainty hovers above the Flames, who also failed to play an international friendly match during the October Fifa calendar dates, their opponents have stepped up their preparations.
Both Liberia and Tunisia are planning to camp in France ahead of the qualifiers.
During the Fifa dates, Liberia faced Libya and Morocco in friendly matches and lost both games 2-3 and 3-0, respectively.
On the other hand, Tunisia played three friendlies against Egypt, which they won 1-3 before losing to South Korea 4-0 and Japan 2-0.
On the other hand, FAM is yet to finalise contractual negotiations for newly-appointed coach Patrick Mabedi although Nyamilandu said in an interview on Sunday that if everything goes according to plan, they expect him to start work on November 1.
Football analyst Kevin Moyo said in an interview that the Flames face a race against time.
He said: “Having already missed out on playing a friendly match on the recent Fifa dates, the situation is not inspiring because our opponents have been busy on the ground.
“Government and FAM need to step up their act, otherwise it could be recipe for disaster because at least by now, everything should have been in place considering that the games start in about three weeks.”
Apart from Tunisia and Liberia, the Flames’ other Group H opponents are Equatorial Guinea, Namibia and Principe and Sao Tome.
