Malawi National Football Team interim Coach Kalisto Pasuwa has dropped left back Timothy Silwimba and striker Zeliat Nkhoma from the initial 25-member squad ahead of dead-rubber 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Burundi in Abidjan, Ivory Coast Thursday.
The Flames flew out of the country through Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe Tuesday.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Competitions and Communications Director Gomezgani Zakazaka said Nkhoma did not report for camp due to an injury whereas Silwimba was on standby.
Zakazaka said Silwimba would join the rest of the teammates for Monday’s clash against Burkina Faso at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
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“The local-based players will spend a night in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before proceeding to Ivory Coast tomorrow morning [Wednesday]. The foreign country-based players are travelling straight to Abidjan from their respective bases, Zakazaka said.
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Pasuwa has preferred defender Alick Lungu, who has just returned from a long spell on the sidelines due to injury.
This means Lungu is the only natural left footed defender in the squad and could start against Burundi tomorrow.
Silwimba featured for the Flames in two matches against Senegal last match.
Pasuwa has recalled veteran strikers Frank Gabadinho Mhango, Richard Mbulu and defender-cum-midfielder Charles Petro for the two matches.
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The Zimbabwean said his focus was on building a team that could compete on the international stage.
Meanwhile, sports analyst Parry Chinyama has said he was confident that the Flames would do well in the remaining two matches.
“I think the mentality in the squad is completely different. Pride is at stake; so, the players need to work extra hard to get a good result,” Chinyama said.
The Flames are without a point, having lost four consecutive matches in the qualifiers.
Malawi lost 3-2 to Burundi in the opening match at Bingu National Stadium before losing 3-1 to Burkina Faso in Bamako, Mali.
They lost 4-0 to Senegal away before suffering a 1-0 defeat to the Lions of Teranga at Bingu National Stadium.
Below is the full squad.
Goalkeepers: William Thole (Mighty Mukuru Wanderers), George Chikooka (Silver Strikers) and Richard Chimbamba (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets)
Defenders: MacDonald Lameck, Maxwell Paipi, Nickson Mwase (Silver Strikers), Gomezgani Chirwa, Nickson Nyasulu, Alick Lungu (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets), Dennis Chembezi (Al Qasim SC-Iraq), Charles Petro (FC Botosani-Romania).
Midfielders: John Banda (UD Songo),Yankho Singo, Lloyd Aaron (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets) Lanjesi Nkhoma, Patrick Mwaungulu (Don Bosco- DRC), Chawanangwa Kaonga (Zanaco FC-Zambia), Wisdom Mpinganjira (Mighty Mukuru Wanderers) and Zebron Kalima (Silver Strikers).
Strikers: Gabadinho Mhango (Marumo Gallants- South Africa), Gadi Chirwa (Mighty Mukuru Wanderers), Richard Mbulu and Lloyd Njaliwa (Costa Do Sol-Mozambique).
