Seven foreign-based players arrived in the country on Monday as the Flames stepped up their preparations for Saturday’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations second preliminary round of the first leg against the Sao from Chad at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

However, the drawback is that the Flames will be without revitalised battle-hardened forward Esau ‘Mamba’ Kanyenda and Robin Ngalande whose club commitments clash with the Chad game.

South Africa-based quartet of strikers Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango and Atusaye Nyondo, midfield kingpin Robert ‘Baggio’ Ng’ambi and defender Limbikani ‘Pupa’ Mzava as well as DR Congo-based midfield maestro Joseph ‘Shakira’ Kamwendo trained with their colleagues on Monday afternoon and yesterday at Kamuzu Stadium.

Two more defenders—Harry Nyirenda, who turns in the Nations First Division (NFD) in South Africa, and Foster Namwela—who plies his trade in Mozambique—arrived on Tuesday.

Captain Moses ‘Luba’ Chavula and midfield workhorse Chimango Kayira, both based in Mozambique, are scheduled to arrive today, virtually completing the Flames arsenal for Saturday’s encounter.

Coach Young Chimodzi said the early arrival of his foreign contingent is a welcome development as there is ample time to blend with the local-based players.

“It is refreshing that they have come in good time and that makes the job easier for us in terms of working on combinations and blending. We’ll also have ample time to assess them,” said Chimodzi.

Confirming the absence of Kanyenda and Ngalande, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda said: “Having finished second from the bottom, Esau’s team [Polokwane City] is involved in play-offs which also includes Harry’s Black Leopards.

“Unfortunately, Polokwane will be taking on Leopards on the same day when the Flames will be playing against Chad. As for Harry, he was shown the red card and, therefore, will not be eligible for Leopards’ game.

“Our efforts to negotiate for Ngalande’s release did not materialise as his team will also be playing in the Nedbank Cup finals on the same day against Orlando Pirates. So, from the list of players that the coaches considered for the Chad game, the two are the only absentees.”

Kanyenda said he was looking forward to an impressive comeback, “but hopefully I should be available for the return fixture and I wish the guys all the best.”

The Flames have played Chad four times in the same competition, of which they have won twice, drawn once and lost one as well.

They first played Chad in the 2012 Nations Cup qualifier and emerged 6-2 winners at home. Kanyenda and Chiukepo Msowoya scored a brace each with Jimmy Zakazaka and Ng’ambi scoring the other goals.

Then came the return leg which will haunt the Flames for a long time when Chad came from behind to equalise in the last minute of added time in N’djamena as the Flames led 2-1 to deny them a successive qualification to the African safari. Nyirenda and Ng’ambi were on target for Flames.

The two teams met again in the 2013 Afcon qualifiers and the Flames lost the first leg 2-3 in N’djamena where Nyondo scored both goals. In the return leg, the Flames won 2-0 via goals from Kamwendo and John ‘CJ’ Banda.