The Malawi National Football Team, the Flames will leave for Francistown, Botswana tomorrow (Friday) for the Mukuru Four Nations Tournament.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Operations Director Gomezgani Zakazaka said the team will use chartered flight for the trip to Botswana.
“The team is expected to leave on Friday. In the meantime, the team will continue preparations at Mpira Village,” Zakazaka said.
He said all the foreign-country-based players except Romania-based defender-cum midfielder Charles Petro are in camp ahead of the tournament. Petro is expected to join his teammates in Francistown, Botswana tomorrow.
Malawi will kick start their Four Nations Tournament campaign against neighbours Zambia at Obedi Itani Chilume Stadium on Saturday. The winner between Malawi and Zambia will face either Zimbabwe or hosts Botswana in the final at the same venue on Monday. The losing semi-finalists will also meet in the third-place off.
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Flames coach Kalisto Pasuwa has named a 25-member squad comprising 17 foreign-country-based players and eight local-based players ahead of the tournament.
For the first time, Pasuwa has included Germany-based blossoming midfielder Mwisho Mhango and Silver Strikers midfielder Festus Duwe. Richard Mbulu, Chawanangwa Kaonga, Lloyd Aaron, Patrick Mwaungulu and William Thole are also in the squad. Iraq-based defender Dennis Chembezi has been ruled out due to travel restrictions whereas captain Frank Gabadinho Mhango and Chifundo Mphasi are injured.
Pasuwa is using the tournament to prepare for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers scheduled to start in September this year.
The Flames will go into the tournament looking to redeem their pride after poor showing in recent matches. Malawi played Lesotho in two friendly matches in November as they beat Likuena 1-0 and a goal-less draw at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
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In 2024, Malawi hosted the Four Nations Tournament at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe. Then, the team finished last following two losses to Kenya (4-0) and Zambia 2-1.
