2 Covid cases in Flames camp
Silver Strikers defender Nixon Mwase and physiotherapist Chikondi Magalasi have been ruled out of Malawi National Football Team’s trip to Cameroon after testing positive for coronavirus.
Malawi will take on Cameroon in a Fifa World Cup qualifier on September 3 before facing Mozambique four days later at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Football Association of Malawi Competitions and Communications Director Gomezgani Zakazaka said Flames coach Meck Mwase would not replace the players.
“All the players and officials underwent PCR tests while at home and those who tested negative are the ones that have gone into camp,” Zakazaka said.
Former Flames midfielder Sherry Msuku said Mwase should not panic as he assembled a strong squad.
“This is the best squad we have at the moment. We just need to have self-belief in all the matches,” Mwase said.
The Flames regrouped on Wednesday at Mpira Village in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre, with a home-based squad that is without the Nyasa Big Bullets quartet of goalkeeper Ernest Kakhobwe, defender Nixon Nyasulu, midfielder Chimwemwe Idana and goalkeepers’ trainer Swadik Sanudi.
The four will join camp on Sunday after Bullets’ TNM Super League match against Chitipa United.
Red Lions midfielder Chikoti Chirwa was expected to join camp yesterday after his team’s encounter with Bullets.
Some of the players who reported for camp on Wednesday include the Mighty Wanderers quintet of goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa, defenders Peter Cholopi and Stanley Sanudi, midfielder Yamikani Chester and striker Vincent Nyangulu.
Also in camp are Blue Eagles attacker Micium Mhone, Cyprus-based Tawonga Chimodzi and Silver goalkeeper Brighton Munthali.
The Flames are expected to leave for Cameroon on Monday through Ethiopia.
The team’s 13 foreign country-based players will join the squad in Cameroon straight from their respective bases.
