Malawi national football team

Malawi
Nickname(s)	Flames
Association	FAM
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	COSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coach	Patrick Mabedi (caretaker)
Captain	John CJ Banda
Most caps	Young Chimodzi (159)
Top scorer	Kinnah Phiri (71)
Home stadium	Bingu National Stadium
FIFA code	MWI
FIFA ranking
Current	123 3 (21 September 2023)[1]
Highest	53 (December 1992)
Lowest	138 (December 2007, March 2008)
First international
	Nyasaland 0–5 Northern Rhodesia ; (Malawi; 1957)[2]
Biggest win
	Malawi 8–1 Botswana ; (Malawi; 13 July 1968) ; Malawi 8–1 Djibouti ; (Blantyre, Malawi; 31 May 2008)
Biggest defeat
	Nyasaland 0–12 Gold Coast ; (Malawi; 15 October 1962)[2]
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	3 (first in 1984)
Best result	Round of 16 (2021)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances	19 (first in 1997)
Best result	Runners-up (2002, 2003)
Medal record
COSAFA Cup
CECAFA Cup

The Malawi national football team represents Malawi in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Malawi. Before 1966, it was known as the Nyasaland national football team.

They have qualified for three Africa Cup of Nations, in 1984, 2010 and 2021. They also won the CECAFA Cup in 1978, 1979 and 1988.

History

Malawi first qualified for an African Cup of Nations in 1984, when only eight teams competed in the tournament in Ivory Coast. After a 3-0 defeat against Algeria, World Cup participants in 1982 and 1986, the Malawi drew 2-2 in the second game against eventual finalists Nigeria. With a 0–1 loss against Ghana, Malawi ended the group stage with 1 point at the bottom of the table and was eliminated from the tournament.

After 26 years, Malawi took part in an Africa Cup of Nations again in 2010. The team benefited from the fact that the continental elimination round for the 2010 FIFA World Cup also served as the qualifying round for AFCON. In the group matches of the third round, Malawi, third place behind Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso and with a record of only four points and 4–11 goal difference, was enough to make it to the continental finals.

At the tournament in Angola, Kinnah Phiri's team caused a big surprise. In the first group game, Malawi defeated Algeria, which had qualified for the World Cup, 3-0. One of the goalscorers was striker Russel Mwafulirwa, who at the time was under contract for the Swedish first division club IFK Norrköping and was thus one of only two players in the 23-man squad active in Europe. Malawi lost the second game against hosts Angola, 2-0.

For Malawi to have reached the quarter-finals for the first time, a draw in the last group game would have been enough. However, the team lost 3-1 to Mali. After just three minutes, the Malawians were 2-0 down, a goal from Mwafulirwa did nothing to avert the team's elimination.

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Win Draw Loss Fixture

2023

25 February Friendly	Malawi	1–1	Lesotho	Lilongwe, Malawi
15:00 UTC+2	Mhone 20' Chaziya 63'	Report	Thabantso 74'	Stadium: Bingu National Stadium Referee: Newtone Nyirenda (Malawi)

15 March Unofficial Friendly	Malawi	1–1	Bangladesh	Medina, Saudi Arabia
	Msowoya 75'		Bishwanath 89'	Stadium: Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium

24 March 2023 AFCON qualification	Egypt	2–0	Malawi	Cairo, Egypt
20:00 UTC+2	Salah 20' Marmoush 45+1' Hamed 68' Abdelmonem 77' Hegazi 79' Kahraba 90'	Report	Stain Davie 90+4'	Stadium: 30 June Stadium Referee: Pierre Atcho (Gabon)

28 March 2023 AFCON qualification	Malawi	0–4	Egypt	Lilongwe, Malawi
15:00 UTC+2		Report	Hamed 4' Marmoush 16' Salah 20' Zizo 49'	Stadium: Bingu National Stadium Referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania)

14 June Friendly	Mozambique	1–1	Malawi	Maputo, Mozambique
10:00 UTC+2	Telinho 56'	Report	Nkhoma 74'	Stadium: Estádio do Zimpeto

20 June 2023 AFCON qualification	Ethiopia	0–0	Malawi	Maputo, Mozambique
16:00 UTC+2		Report		Stadium: Estádio do Zimpeto Referee: Djindo Louis Houngnandande (Benin)

6 July 2023 COSAFA Cup	Zambia	0–1	Malawi	Durban
18:00		Report	Katebe 17' (o.g.)	Stadium: King Zwelithini Stadium

9 July 2023 COSAFA Cup	Malawi	2–0	Seychelles	Durban
18:00	Nkhoma 55' Jacama Kumwembe 65'	Report		Stadium: King Zwelithini Stadium

11 July 2023 COSAFA Cup	Malawi	2–0	Comoros	Durban
15:00	Kaonga 30' (pen.) Mwaungulu 36'	Report		Stadium: Chatsworth Stadium

14 July 2023 COSAFA Cup SF	Malawi	1–1 (0–3 p)	Lesotho	KwaMashu
15:00	Kaonga 26' (pen.)	Report	Thaba-Ntso 18'	Stadium: King Zwelithini Stadium

16 July 2023 COSAFA Cup 3rd	Malawi	0–0 (3–5 p)	South Africa	Durban
15:00		Report		Stadium: King Zwelithini Stadium

9 September 2023 AFCON qualification	Malawi	2–2	Guinea	Lilongwe, Malawi
15:00 UTC+2	Saizi 23' Chaziya 88'	Report	A. Camara 56' Sow 58'	Stadium: Bingu National Stadium Referee: Clement Franklin Kpan (Ivory Coast)

November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Liberia

v

Malawi

November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Malawi

v

Tunisia

Coaching staff

[3]

Position	Name
Head Coach	Patrick Mabedi (interim)
1st Assistant coach	Deklerk Msakakuona
2nd Assistant coach	Eliya Kananji
Goalkeeping coach	Victor Mphande
Team manager	James Sangala
Fitness Coach	Peter Mgangira
Technical Adviser	Aubrey Nankhuni
Data Analyst	Lawrence Waya
Physiotherapist	Dexter Killi
Team Doctor	Dr. Levison Mwale
Kitmaster	Richard Justin
Media Manager	Gomegzani Zakazaka
Chaplain	Chancy Gondwe
Assistant Technical Manager	Steve Madeira

Coaching history

Caretaker coaches are listed in italics

Jack Chamangwana (1998–99)
Young Chimodzi (1999–00)
Kim Splidsboel (2000–02)
Alan Gillett (2003)
Edington Ng'onamo (2003–04)
John Kaputa (2004)
Yassin Osman (2004–05)
Michael Hennigan (2005)
Burkhard Ziese (2005–06)
Kinnah Phiri (2006–07)
Stephen Constantine (2007–08)
Kinnah Phiri (2009–12)
Edington Ng'onamo (2012–13)
Tom Saintfiet (2013)
Young Chimodzi (2014–15)
Ernest Mtawali (2015–16)
Ramadhan Nsanzurwimo (2016–17)
Gerald Phiri Sr. (2017)
Ronny Van Geneugden (2017–19)
Meke Mwase (2019–2021)
Mario Marinică (2021–2023)
Patrick Mabedi (2023–present)

Squad

Current squad

The following players were called up for 2023 COSAFA Cup.[4]

Caps and goals correct as of: 16 July 2023, after the match against South Africa.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK	Brighton Munthali	(1997-12-11) 11 December 1997	32	0	Blue Eagles
1GK	Innocent Nyasulu	(1997-04-16) April 16, 1997	1	0	Mighty Tigers
1GK	Austin Chirambo	(1998-11-28) 28 November 1998	0	0	Nyasa Big Bullets

2DF	Stanley Sanudi	(1995-02-02) 2 February 1995	83	1	Mighty Wanderers
2DF	Dennis Chembezi	(1997-01-15) 15 January 1997	41	0	Black Leopards
2DF	Lawrence Chaziya	(1998-08-19) 19 August 1998	11	0	Mighty Wanderers
2DF	Nickson Mwase	(1997-02-20) 20 February 1997	9	0	Silver Strikers
2DF	Daniel Chimbalanga	(1999-01-19) 19 January 1999	3	0	MAFCO
2DF	McDonald Lameck	(1999-01-16) 16 January 1999	0	0	Blue Eagles

3MF	Chimwemwe Idana	(1998-09-07) 7 September 1998	48	0	Silver Strikers
3MF	Alick Lungu	(2002-03-24) 24 March 2002	10	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
3MF	Patrick Mwaungulu	(2002-02-18) 18 February 2002	7	1	Nyasa Big Bullets
3MF	Frank Willard	(2001-05-09) 9 May 2001	5	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
3MF	Robert Saizi	(2003-07-05) 5 July 2003	3	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
3MF	Crispin Mapemba	(1998-06-06) 6 June 1998	2	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
3MF	Chikumbutso Salima	(2003-12-27) 27 December 2003	2	0	Bangwe All Stars
3MF	Patrick Macheso	(1997-05-07) 7 May 1997	1	0	Silver Strikers
3MF	Blessings Singini	(2003-11-28) 28 November 2003	1	0	Ekwendeni Hammers
3MF	Chikondi Kamanga	(1998-01-29) 29 January 1998	0	0	Silver Strikers

4FW	Chawanangwa Kawonga	(1995-01-05) 5 January 1995	20	2	Zanaco
4FW	Gaddie Chirwa	(1997-11-30) 30 November 1997	8	0	Mighty Wanderers
4FW	Lanjesi Nkhoma	(2002-05-27) 27 May 2002	7	2	Nyasa Big Bullets
4FW	Christopher Kumwembe	(1997-01-21) 21 January 1997	6	1	Mighty Wanderers
4FW	Chifundo Mphasi	(2004-10-17) 17 October 2004	6	0	Shamuel

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up in 12 months preceding the above draft.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Charles Thomu	(1999-01-24) 24 January 1999	7	0	Silver Strikers	v. Egypt; 28 March 2023
GK	Clever Nkungula	(2000-02-13) 13 February 2000	3	0	Nyasa Big Bullets	v. Egypt; 28 March 2023

DF	Blessings Mpokera	(2002-04-02) 2 April 2002	0	0	Nyasa Big Bullets	v. Ethiopia; 20 June 2023
DF	Gomezgani Chirwa	(1996-09-25) 25 September 1996	24	0	Nyasa Big Bullets	v. Egypt; 28 March 2023
DF	Miracle Gabeya	(1996-01-14) 14 January 1996	14	1	Mighty Wanderers	v. Egypt; 28 March 2023
DF	Paul Ndhlovu	(1992-02-18) 18 February 1992	5	0	Malawi Armed Forces College	v. Egypt; 28 March 2023
DF	Kelvin Kadzinje	(1999-04-04) 4 April 1999	2	0	CIVO United	v. Egypt; 28 March 2023
DF	Kieran Ngwenya	(2002-09-25) 25 September 2002	1	0	Raith Rovers	v. Egypt; 28 March 2023

MF	John Banda	(1993-08-20) 20 August 1993	88	7	Songo	v. Ethiopia; 20 June 2023
MF	Chikoti Chirwa	(1992-09-19) 19 September 1992	37	2	Costa do Sol	v. Ethiopia; 20 June 2023
MF	Micium Mhone	(1992-01-19) 19 January 1992	59	6	Blue Eagles	v. Egypt; 28 March 2023
MF	Charles Petro	(2001-02-08) 8 February 2001	30	0	FC Botoșani	v. Egypt; 28 March 2023
MF	Francisco Madinga	(2000-02-11) 11 February 2000	13	0	Jwaneng Galaxy	v. Egypt; 28 March 2023
MF	Gilbert Chirwa	(1994-02-14) 14 February 1994	4	0	Blue Eagles	v. Egypt; 28 March 2023
MF	Chawanangwa Gumbo	(2000-11-28) 28 November 2000	0	0	Nyasa Big Bullets	v. Egypt; 28 March 2023

FW	Richard Mbulu	(1994-01-25) 25 January 1994	40	5	Al-Najaf	v. Ethiopia; 20 June 2023
FW	Yamikani Chester	(1994-12-20) 20 December 1994	40	1	Costa do Sol	v. Ethiopia; 20 June 2023
FW	Peter Banda	(2000-09-22) 22 September 2000	23	0	Simba	v. Ethiopia; 20 June 2023
FW	Loyd Njaliwa	(1998-05-24) 24 May 1998	6	0	Moyale Barracks	v. Ethiopia; 20 June 2023
FW	Chiukepo Msowoya	(1988-09-23) 23 September 1988	89	22	Mighty Wanderers	v. Egypt; 28 March 2023
FW	Stain Davie	(1997-09-23) 23 September 1997	11	0	Silver Strikers	v. Egypt; 28 March 2023

Records

As of 16 July 2023[5]

Players in bold are still active with Malawi.

Most appearances

Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Young Chimodzi	159	13	1979–1995
2	Jack Chamangwana	133	10	1975–1985
3	Lawrence Waya	129	28	1982–1996
4	Harry Waya	126	8	1977–1987
5	Kinnah Phiri	117	71	1973–1981
6	Gilbert Chirwa	112	4	1981–1993
7	Jonathan Billie	110	8	1978–1987
8	Joseph Kamwendo	104	6	2003–2017
9	Felix Nyirongo	103	2	1986–1997
10	Peter Mponda	102	1	1998–2011

Top goalscorers

Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Kinnah Phiri	71	117	0.61	1973–1981
2	Frank Sinalo	28	75	0.37	1981–1989
2	Lawrence Waya	28	129	0.22	1982–1996
4	Stock Dandize	23	70	0.33	1977–1983
5	Yasin Osman	22	67	0.33	1966–1975
	Essau Kanyenda	22	72	0.31	1999–2015
	Chiukepo Msowoya	22	89	0.25	2006–present
8	Peterkins Kayira	18	68	0.26	1983–1989
9	Barnet Gondwe	17	66	0.26	1976–1981
9	Gabadinho Mhango	17	68	0.25	2012–present

Competition records

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1966	Did not enter									Did not enter
1970
1974
1978	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	0	5
1982										2	0	1	1	1	4
1986										4	2	0	2	5	2
1990										8	2	3	3	6	6
1994	Withdrew									Withdrew
1998	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	0	4
2002										8	1	2	5	6	12
2006										12	2	4	6	15	27
2010										12	5	1	6	18	16
2014										6	1	4	1	4	5
2018										2	1	0	1	1	2
2022										8	2	1	5	3	12
2026	To be determined									To be determined
Total		0/22								66	16	16	34	59	95

Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1965	Not affiliated to CAF									Not affiliated to CAF
1968
1970
1972
1974	Did not enter									Did not enter
1976	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	4	9
1978										2	0	1	1	3	4
1980										4	1	0	3	6	7
1982										2	0	1	1	1	2
1984	Group stage	7th	3	0	1	2	2	6	Squad	4	3	1	0	6	2
1986	Did not qualify									2	0	2	0	2	2
1988										2	0	0	2	1	4
1990										4	1	2	1	5	4
1992										4	0	1	3	3	9
1994										6	2	1	3	4	7
1996										6	1	3	2	6	7
1998										6	3	0	3	9	10
2000										2	1	0	1	2	2
2002										2	0	0	2	2	5
2004										4	1	0	3	3	10
2006										12	2	4	6	15	27
2008										4	1	0	3	2	6
2010	Group stage	11th	3	1	0	2	4	5	Squad	6	4	0	2	14	5
2012	Did not qualify									8	2	6	0	13	8
2013										4	1	0	3	4	6
2015										6	2	1	3	5	9
2017										6	2	1	3	5	9
2019										6	1	2	3	2	6
2021	Round of 16	13th	4	1	1	2	3	4	Squad	6	3	1	2	4	5
2023	Did not qualify									In progress
2025	To be determined									To be determined
Total	Round of 16	3/34	10	2	2	6	9	15		110	31	28	51	121	165

African Games

Year	Result	M	W	D	L	GF	GA
1965	Did not qualify
1973	Did not qualify
1978	4th	5	0	0	5	2	11
1987	3rd	5	3	1	1	8	4
Total	2/4	10	3	1	6	10	15

Head-to-head record

As of 17 November 2019 after match against Uganda[6]

More wins than losses As many wins as losses Fewer wins than losses

Opponent	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Algeria	7	2	1	4	6	13	−7
Angola	9	3	3	3	8	10	−2
Benin	2	1	0	1	1	1	0
Botswana	25	12	8	5	47	21	+26
Burkina Faso	4	0	1	3	3	7	−4
Burundi	3	0	2	1	4	6	−2
Cameroon	9	1	4	4	6	13	−7
Chad	6	3	1	2	15	10	+5
Comoros	4	3	0	1	5	3	+2
Congo	2	0	0	2	1	3	−2
Djibouti	4	4	0	0	17	1	+16
DR Congo	10	3	3	4	8	9	−1
Egypt	10	3	2	5	8	14	−6
Eritrea	1	1	0	0	3	2	+1
Eswatini	27	11	11	5	40	21	+19
Ethiopia	11	3	6	2	11	9	+2
Gabon	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2
Ghana	6	0	1	5	0	17	−17
Guinea	7	1	3	3	7	10	−3
Ivory Coast	6	1	1	4	7	12	−5
Kenya	47	19	18	10	61	46	+15
Lesotho	20	13	4	3	43	12	+31
Liberia	3	0	1	2	0	2	−2
Libya	3	0	1	2	3	5	−2
Madagascar	10	2	1	7	12	21	−9
Mali	5	1	1	3	5	8	−3
Mauritius	20	11	5	4	31	19	+12
Morocco	10	1	3	6	3	15	−12
Mozambique	31	12	11	8	34	29	+5
Namibia	15	4	3	8	15	20	−5
Nigeria	8	0	2	6	9	20	−11
Réunion	1	1	0	0	8	2	+6
Rwanda	9	5	2	2	16	9	+7
Senegal	3	1	0	2	5	7	−2
Seychelles	1	1	0	0	3	0	+3
Sierra Leone	4	3	1	0	14	5	+9
Somalia	3	3	0	0	6	2	+4
South Africa	13	1	3	9	5	20	−15
South Sudan	2	1	0	1	1	2	−1
Sudan	3	2	1	0	6	1	+5
Tanzania	55	17	25	13	62	52	+10
Togo	3	2	1	0	3	1	+2
Tunisia	7	2	3	2	8	16	−8
Uganda	31	8	9	14	32	39	−7
Yemen	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1
Zambia	79	19	17	43	68	170	−102
Zanzibar	15	12	2	1	34	10	+24
Zimbabwe	64	18	21	25	60	82	−22
Total	620	212	182	226	746	798	−52

References

"The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
"Mabedi gets down to work as he names provisional squad for Ethiopia Match, Football Association of Malawi May 19th, 2023". 19 May 2023. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
"Final Squad". Facebook. Football Association of Malawi.
Mamrud, Roberto. "Malawi – Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
"World Football Elo Ratings: Malawi". Elo Ratings. Archived from the original on 18 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.

External links

Football Association of Malawi official website
Malawi at CAF
Malawi at FIFA

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[FIFA_World_Rankings-1] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.

[rsssf-2] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[3] "Mabedi gets down to work as he names provisional squad for Ethiopia Match, Football Association of Malawi May 19th, 2023". 19 May 2023. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.

[4] "Final Squad". Facebook. Football Association of Malawi.

[RSSSF-5] Mamrud, Roberto. "Malawi – Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.

[6] "World Football Elo Ratings: Malawi". Elo Ratings. Archived from the original on 18 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.

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