Flames to face Mozambique, Uganda

The Flames will play two international friendly matches against Mozambique’s Mambas and Uganda’s Cranes before they travel to Benin for their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final preliminary round first leg.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu said the Flames will face Mozambique on July 6 as part of the 50th Independence Anniversary Celebrations.

“Following government’s approval to arrange a match, we have reached an agreement with our Mozambican counterparts.

“We are also finalising another friendly match against Uganda en route to Benin,” said Nyamilandu.

The FAM president said most of the players that will feature in the Mozambique game will be locally-based players.

Flames assistant coach Jack Chamangwana said as of on Thursday they were finalising the final call-up.

However, Chamangwana last week hinted that seasoned defender James Sangala, who has just bounced back from retirement and South Africa-based battle-hardened forward Esau Kanyenda, are some of the players being earmarked for the Mozambique match.

He also hinted that three Under-20 stars—defender Miracle Gabeya, midfielder Ernest Tambe and striker Chawanangwa Kaonga were being considered so too Zimbabwe-based winger Gerald Phiri Jnr, current Super League leading scorer Callisto Kalinda and his team-mates Richard Mbulu and Zasher Nong’oneza.

Defenders Sankhani Mkandawire and Emmanuel Zoya would also be considered for selection.