Sports and Games

Flames settling in Dakar

Flames settling in Dakar

Malawi National Football Team is hoping to have a full squad today before Friday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group L encounter against Senegal.

The Flames arrived in Dakar, Senegal, through Blaise Diagne International Airport on Sunday evening before checking in at The Rhino Resort.

According to the itinerary, four players—namely Chawanangwa Kaonga, Robert Saizi (both from Zambia), Patrick Mwaungulu and Lanjesi Nkhoma (both from the Democratic Republic of Congo)—were expected last night as we went to press.

The other four players— namely Yamikani Chester, Lloyd Njaliwa, captain Christopher John Banda and Chembezi Denis—are expected to arrive in Dakar today.

Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Competitions and Communications Director Gomezgani Zakazaka said they expected all the foreign-land based players to arrive in Daka by Tuesday.

“So far, everything is going according to the plan,” Zakazaka said.

The Flames left the country for Dakar on Saturday with the surprise inclusion of Mighty Mukuru Wanderers attacker Isaac ‘Chair’ Kaliati, who replaced injured Mozambique-based Richard Mbulu.

According to a statement from Fam, Mbulu was ruled out due to injury, prompting Flames’ coach Patrick Mabedi to turn to the TNM Super League leading scorer.

Initially, Kaliati was on the standby list alongside the Chifundo Mphasi, goalkeeper William Thole and defender Precious Sambani.

However, Thole, Sambani and Kaliati were expected to join the Flames on their return from Dakar.

The Flames are without a point in Group L and anchor the table, having lost to Burundi 3-2 at home— Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe—and, then, away to Burkina Faso 3-1.

Senegal and Burkina Faso have four points each while Burundi lie third with three points.