Malawi National Football Team, the Flames, will play their upcoming away 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier against São Tomé and Príncipe in Tunisia next month.
World football governing body Fifa in a statement yesterday announced that the fixture between the Flames and the islanders is among seven to be played at neutral venue, due to stadium standards and compliance issues in their respective countries.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka confirmed the development yesterday.
“São Tomé and Príncipe have communicated that their match-day nine fixtures will be played in Tunisia,” he said.
According to the latest determination, Ethiopia will face Guinea-Bissau in Rwanda while Sierra Leone will host Burkina Faso in Liberia.
On the other hand, Comoros’ clash with Madagascar will be staged in Ivory Coast while Niger will play Congo in Burkina Faso.
Somalia’s tie against Mozambique has been shifted to Algeria while Lesotho’s home fixture against Nigeria will be played in South Africa.
However, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana will remain at home when they face neighbours Zimbabwe, who are still without an approved stadium.
Seychelles are scheduled to host Ivory Coast in Mauritius while Gambia’s meeting with Gabon will be played in Kenya.
São Tomé will also play their fixture against Tunisia in Tunis, giving the Carthage Eagles advantage.
Malawi are technically out of the race for 2026 World Cup qualification while Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles, already qualified as they top the pool with 22 points.
Namibia’s Brave Warriors sit second with 12 points while Liberia are third with 11 points. Both remain in contention for a possible best runners-up slot.
The Flames dislodged Equatorial Guinea to move into fourth position on 10 points, though the two sides are tied.
Sao Tome and Principe remain bottom without a point.
