Tight schedule
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has found itself in a fix following a clash in fixtures for the Flames and Under-23 national football team.
The Flames face Morocco in the last 2019 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier on March 23 while the Under-23 team faces Zambia in an Under-23 Afcon qualifier with the first leg set to be played on March 20 while the second leg will be played on March 24 in Zambia.
The Under-23 squad, which is currently in Egypt in preparation for the two-legged qualifiers, has eight players that are also in the Flames squad.
Patrick Phiri, Isaac Kaliyati, Ernest Tambe, Levison Maganizo, Dennis Chembezi, Precious Sambani, Brighton Munthali and Rabson Chiyenda feature for both Under-23 and Flames.
Coach Ronny van Geneugden (RVG) also said he would like the Under-23 squad to play the dead-rubber match against Morocco, but that will not work since the players will be preparing for the second leg against Zambia.
“The Under-23 team will graduate to the senior team and we will only maintain a few that are above 23.
“The team that will face Morocco will also be from the same [Under-23] group,” said RVG before the Under-23 team’s departure for Belgium enroute to Egypt.
FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda said they would wait for the Under-23 technical panel to return from the overseas camp before making a decision on the players.
However, the general secretary said they could shift the Morocco qualifying match from Saturday to Friday.
“The senior national team and the Under-23 national team technical panels will sit down and come up with a decision on which players will play in the two teams’ matches.
“But apart from that, from an administration point of view, it will also be a challenge for us. We are considering having the Afcon qualifier against Morocco shifted to Friday, March 22,” he said.
But football analyst Charles Nyirenda said the best way is to prioritise the Under-23 Afcon qualifier.
He said: “We all know that Malawi is already out of the Afcon qualification. The match against Morocco is an academic one with no real value.
“But we need to beat Zambia at all cost so that we can qualify for the next stage. Let us concentrate on the Under-23 which, as the coach put it, are the future of Malawi football.”
The Under-23 side will face either Burundi or Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) if they beat Zambia.
Egypt will host the Under-23 Afcon final. The top three teams will qualify for 2020 Summer Olympics men’s football tournament in Japan. n
