Malawi national football team squad, coach, world rankings, AFCON, nickname

Malawi national football team squad, coach, world rankings, AFCON, nickname

Sospeter Itolondo
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:54 PM

Get to know the Malawi national football team squad, coach, world rankings, their progress and history in AFCON, and their nickname. The South African team is well decorated with honourable appearances in the AFCON, CECAFA and COSAFA. So come with us on this journey to know more about the team.

Malawi national football team
Photo: canva.com (modified by author)
Source: UGC

They have had a good record across continental competitions, better known as the Flames. However, they have never qualified for the FIFA world cup. They came closest in 2010. Their squad is mainly composed of players in their country’s Super League of Malawi.

Profile Summary

  • Full name: Malawi National Football Team
  • Nickname: The Flames
  • Managed by: Football Association of Malawi
  • Founded: 1966
  • Colours: Red, green and black
  • Federation: CAF
  • Head coach: Mario Marinica
  • Captain: Limbikani Mzava
  • Most caps: Young Chimodzi(159)
  • Top scorer: Kinnah Phiri( 71)
  • FIFA ranking: 129 (as of December 2021)
  • World cup appearance: Never Qualified
  • Stadium: Bingu National Stadium

Malawi national football team

The Flames are one of the most successful teams in Africa. They won the COSAFA cup once in 2015 while finishing as runners-up in 2002 and 2003. Their participation in the CECAFA cup has been successful, with wins in 1978, 1979 and 1988. Unfortunately, they have not been able to qualify for the world cup. Most of their players play for their domestic league.

Malawi national football team squad, coach, world rankings, AFCON, nickname
Malawi national football team defender Harry Nyirenda challenging for the ball in a match against Zimbabwe in AFCON group qualifiers on June 5th 2016 in Harare. Photo: Jekesai Njikizana
Source: Getty Images

Malawi national football team players

They have a 25 man squad. It consists of three goalkeepers, seven defenders, six midfielders and nine attackers. The squad players are:

  • E. Kakhobwe, C. Thomu and W. Thole as the Goalkeepers,
  • L. Mzava, D. Chembezi, P. Cholopi, L. Chaziya, M. Fodya, S. Sanudi and G. Chirwa as defenders,
  • C. Petro, C. Chirwa, J. Banda, C. Idana, F. Madinga and M. Mhone as midfielders,
  • S. Davie, Z. Kalima, P. Banda, Y. Chester, G. Phiri Junior, R. Ngalande, Gabadinho Mhango, R. Mbulu and K. Muyaba as attackers.

Their coach is Mario Marinica. He is acting as the interim after their former coach, Meke Mwase, was demoted to deputy coach. The average age of the team is 25 years.

Malawi national football team roster

They have 25 players: three goalkeepers, seven defenders, six midfielders, and nine attackers. The players are E. Kakhobwe, C. Thomu, W. Thole, L. Mzava, D. Chembezi, P. Cholopi, L. Chaziya, M. Fodya, S. Sanudi, G. Chirwa, C. Petro, C. Chirwa, J. Banda, C. Idana, F. Madinga, M. Mhone, S. Davie, Z. Kalima, P. Banda, Y. Chester, G. Phiri Junior, R. Ngalande, Gabadinho Mhango, R. Mbulu and K. Muyaba. Their coach is Mario Marinica.

Malawi national football team ranking

They have been ranked 129 in the world as of January 2022. Their best-ever ranking was 53, and their lowest ranking was 138.

Malawi national football team AFCON

Malawi national football team squad, coach, world rankings, AFCON, nickname
Malawi national football team players warm up during their training session a day before the commencement of the AFCON competitions in Angola. Photo: Joe Klamar
Source: Getty Images

Their first appearance in AFCON was in 1984, then in 2010 and 2022. They have made three appearances in the competition, their best result being knocked out in the group stages. However, they have not made it to the knockout stages yet. Their campaign so far in 2022 has been great, with one loss against Guinea and a win against Zimbabwe. They face Senegal, a formidable opponent, on matchday 3 and hope to win.

Malawi national football team captain

Their captain is Limbikani Mzava. He plays as a defender for Amazulu in South Africa’s PSL. He was born on the 12th of November 1993, meaning he is 28 years old.

Malawi national football team coach

Their coach is Mario Marinica. He was their former technical director. He was promoted to head coach after the former coach, Meke Mwase, was demoted to deputy coach on the 3rd of December 2021. The deputy coach was demoted due to the bad performance in the World Cup Qualifiers. The Football Association of Malawi was quoted saying,

“The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) wishes to advise that the Executive Committee at its meeting of the 3rd of December 2021 meeting took a decision to re-organise the technical set up of the Flames to ensure that it is well prepared for the forthcoming Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroun 2022.”

They further reiterated,

“This comes against the background of the Flames’ dismal performance at the just ended Qatar 2022 World Cup Qualifiers, where the team ended bottom of the table. Upon reflection, it has become very clear that the team has technical and tactical deficiencies that have to be worked on in order to turn around its performance.”

They further stated,

“After careful consideration, the Executive Committee approved that that new Technical Director, Marian Mario Marinica should temporarily take charge of the Flames as Head of Technical Panel supported by Meke Mwase.”

Marinica hopes to take the team to football glory.

Malawi national football team world rankings

They are ranked at 129 as of January 2022. Their highest ranking was 53 and lowest 138.

Malawi national football team trophies

They have been able to get their hands on several trophies, including:

  • The COSAFA winners in 2015
  • Three-time CECAFA cup winners in 1978, 1979 and 1988.

Malawi national football team nickname

Their current nickname is the Flames.

Malawi national football team Twitter

Their Twitter account is @FaMalawi. They have over nine thousand followers and only followed 175 people at the time of writing this article in January 2022.

Malawi national football team Jersey

They have three team Jerseys: the all-red jersey, all green jersey with red socks and all-black jersey with white socks.

Malawi national football team results

They have a run at the AFCON 2022 competition. They started with a 1 nil loss to Guinea. However, they redeemed themselves against Zimbabwe with a 2-1 win.

Malawi national football team squad, coach, world rankings, AFCON, nickname
Russell Mwafulirwa of Malawi vies for the ball against two Mali players in an AFCON group stage match in 2010 at the Chiaza stadium in Cabinda. Photo: Issouf Sanogo
Source: Getty Images

Malawi national football team table

They are currently sitting third in group B with 3 points. They are in the same group as Guinea, Senegal and Zimbabwe.

Malawi national football team FIFA ranking in Africa

They are ranked 35 in Africa. Just above the Central Africa Republic and below Angola.

A look into the Malawi national football team shows an up and coming side. Their appearance in different continental competitions has been successful, with several trophies to show. The squad is mainly made up of players from their domestic league. They hope to come out tops in AFCON 2022.

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