Malawi national football team

Malawi

Nickname(s)	The Flames
Association	Football Association of Malawi
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	COSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coach	Callisto Pasuwa
Captain	John Banda
Most caps	Young Chimodzi (159)
Top scorer	Kinnah Phiri (71)
Home stadium	Bingu National Stadium
FIFA code	MWI
First colours Second colours Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current	132 1 (3 April 2025) [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   Ghana (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 2002 Southern Africa 2003 Southern Africa CECAFA Cup 1978 Malawi 1979 Kenya 1988 Malawi 1975 Zambia 1984 Uganda 1989 Kenya 1977 Somalia 1980 Sudan 1985 Zimbabwe

The Malawi national football team (Chichewa : Timu ya dziko la Malawi) 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.

Known as the Flames, Malawi has qualified for three Africa Cup of Nations, in 1984, 2010 and 2021. They also won the CECAFA Cup in 1978, 1979 and 1988 and finished fourth in the 2024 Four Nations Football Tournament.

History

Coaches

The first full-time coach of the Malawi national football team was Ron Meades. The British Council arranged for his appointment through the English Football Association to coach the team for the Republic Celebrations, playing Madagascar and Zambia. Ray Batchelor was coach for four years from 11 November 1967 to 10 October 1971, guiding the team in 23 friendly matches and two Olympic Games. Players during this time included future coaches in Henry Moyo, Brian Griffin, and Yasin Osman. Other coaches included Brazilian Wander Moreira, British Ted Powell, and the first locally-born coach, Alex Masanjala, who was appointed as an interim before Henry Moyo. Moyo was the first former national player to coach the Flames, and stayed in the position for five years. As of January 2019, only nine coaches had been in charge for more than 20 games. The most successful coaches were Powell, Moyo, and Kim Splidsboel (2000–2002) from Denmark. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Tournaments

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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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

2024

Malawi   v   Kenya

23 March Friendly	Malawi	0–4	Kenya	Lilongwe, Malawi
		Report		Stadium: Bingu National Stadium

Malawi   v   Zambia

26 March Friendly	Malawi	1–2	Zambia	Lilongwe, Malawi
		Report		Stadium: Bingu National Stadium

Malawi   v   São Tomé and Príncipe

6 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Malawi	3–1	São Tomé and Príncipe	Lilongwe, Malawi
15:00  UTC+2	Kawonga 6' Nkhoma 14' Mphasi 78'	Report	Silva 67'	Stadium: Bingu National Stadium Referee: Ahmed Arajiga (Tanzania)

Equatorial Guinea   v   Malawi

10 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Equatorial Guinea	1–0	Malawi	Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
14:00  UTC+1	Salvador 81'	Report		Stadium: Estadio de Malabo Referee: Lamin Jammeh (Gambia)

2025

Malawi   v   Namibia

20 March 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Malawi	0–1	Namibia	Lilongwe, Malawi
18:00  UTC+2		Report (FIFA) Report (CAF)	Tjiueza 40'	Stadium: Bingu National Stadium Attendance: 17,706 Referee: Jelly Alfred Chavani (South Africa)

Tunisia   v   Malawi

24 March 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Tunisia	2–0	Malawi	Tunis, Tunisia
22:00  UTC+1		Report (FIFA) Report (CAF)		Stadium: Hammadi Agrebi Stadium

Namibia   v   Malawi

September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Namibia

v

Malawi

Malawi   v   Liberia

September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Malawi

v

Liberia

Malawi   v   Equatorial Guinea

October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Malawi

v

Equatorial Guinea

São Tomé and Príncipe   v   Malawi

October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

São Tomé and Príncipe

v

Malawi

Coaching staff

^[6]

Position	Name
Head Coach	Callisto Pasuwa
1st Assistant coach	Peter Mponda
2nd Assistant coach	Macdonald Mtetemela
Goalkeeping coach	Simplex Nthala
Team manager	James Sangala
Fitness Coach	Peter Mgangira
Technical Adviser	Aubrey Nankhuni
Data Analyst	Taonga Chimodzi
Physiotherapist	Dexter Killi
Team Doctor	Dr. Levison Mwale
Kitmaster	Richard Justin Lado
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 (2023–2024)
• Kalisto Pasuwa (2024–present)

Players

Current squad

The following players were named to the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group H matches against   Namibia and   Tunisia on 20 and 24 March 2025. ^[7]

Caps and goals correct as of: 18 November 2024, after the match against   Burkina Faso .

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1 GK	George Chikooka	(1997-04-04) 4 April 1997 (age 28)	5	0	Silver Strikers
	1 GK	William Thole	(1998-10-02) 2 October 1998 (age 26)	5	0	Simba Bhora
	1 GK	Richard Chimbamba	(1998-06-23) 23 June 1998 (age 26)	0	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
	2 DF	Dennis Chembezi	(1997-01-15) 15 January 1997 (age 28)	53	0	Al-Qasim
	2 DF	Precious Sambani	(1998-05-21) 21 May 1998 (age 26)	29	1	Silver Strikers
	2 DF	Gomezgani Chirwa	(1996-09-25) 25 September 1996 (age 28)	27	0	Ngezi Platinum
	2 DF	Nickson Mwase	(1997-02-20) 20 February 1997 (age 28)	17	0	Silver Strikers
	3 MF	Alick Lungu	(2002-03-24) 24 March 2002 (age 23)	12	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
	2 DF	Nickson Nyasulu	(1998-03-03) 3 March 1998 (age 27)	6	0	Platinum
	2 DF	McDonald Lameck	(1998-10-10) 10 October 1998 (age 26)	4	0	Silver Strikers
	2 DF	Maxwell Paipi	(2002-05-04) 4 May 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Silver Strikers
	3 MF	John Banda	(1993-08-20) 20 August 1993 (age 31)	96	7	Free agent
	3 MF	Charles Petro	(2001-02-08) 8 February 2001 (age 24)	32	0	Botoșani
	3 MF	Lloyd Aaron	(2003-01-08) 8 January 2003 (age 22)	18	1	Nyasa Big Bullets
	3 MF	Lloyd Njaliwa	(1998-05-24) 24 May 1998 (age 26)	11	0	Costa do Sol
	3 MF	Yankho Singo	(2000-04-01) 1 April 2000 (age 25)	2	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
	3 MF	Chawanangwa Gumbo	(2002-03-25) 25 March 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
	3 MF	Wongani Lungu	(2002-03-09) 9 March 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
	4 FW	Gabadinho Mhango	(1992-09-27) 27 September 1992 (age 32)	72	18	Moroka Swallows
	4 FW	Richard Mbulu	(1994-01-25) 25 January 1994 (age 31)	43	6	Costa do Sol
	3 MF	Chawa	(1995-01-05) 5 January 1995 (age 30)	31	4	Zanaco
	4 FW	Lanjesi Nkhoma	(2002-05-27) 27 May 2002 (age 22)	19	4	Don Bosco
	4 FW	Patrick Mwaungulu	(2002-02-18) 18 February 2002 (age 23)	16	1	Don Bosco
	4 FW	Wisdom Mpinganjira	(2002-07-08) 8 July 2002 (age 22)	12	0	Mighty Wanderers
	4 FW	Gaddie Chirwa	(1997-11-30) 30 November 1997 (age 27)	9	0	Mighty Wanderers
	4 FW	Zebron Kalima	(2002-05-13) 13 May 2002 (age 22)	2	0	Silver Strikers
	4 FW	Ephraim Kondowe	(2002-01-02) 2 January 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
	4 FW	Chikumbutso Salima	(2003-12-27) 27 December 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Nyasa Big Bullets

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	Brighton Munthali	(1997-12-11) 11 December 1997 (age 27)	37	0	Blue Eagles	v.   Senegal ; 15 October 2024
GK	Innocent Nyasulu	(1997-04-16) 16 April 1997 (age 27)	2	0	Mighty Tigers	v.   Burkina Faso ; 10 September 2024
GK	Austin Chirambo	(2003-12-31) 31 December 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Nyasa Big Bullets	v.   Zambia ; 26 March 2024
DF	Timothy Silwimba	(1999-05-05) 5 May 1999 (age 25)	2	0	Mighty Wanderers	v.   Burkina Faso 18 November 2024
DF	Stanley Sanudi	(1995-02-02) 2 February 1995 (age 30)	93	1	Mighty Wanderers	v.   Senegal ; 15 October 2024
DF	Lawrence Chaziya	(1998-08-19) 19 August 1998 (age 26)	17	2	Mighty Wanderers	v.   Senegal ; 15 October 2024
DF	Yamikani Mologeni	(2002-10-22) 22 October 2002 (age 22)	0	0	Nyasa Big Bullets	v.   Senegal ; 15 October 2024
DF	Blessings Mpokera	(2002-04-02) 2 April 2002 (age 23)	2	0	Nyasa Big Bullets	v.   Equatorial Guinea ; 10 June 2024
DF	Alex Kambilinya		0	0	Wakawaka Tigers	v.   Equatorial Guinea ; 10 June 2024
DF	Daniel Chimbalanga	(1999-01-19) 19 January 1999 (age 26)	3	0	MAFCO	v.   Zambia ; 26 March 2024
DF	Joseph Balakasi	(2002-04-12) 12 April 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Dedza Dynamos	v.   Zambia ; 26 March 2024
DF	Chimwemwe Nkhoma		0	0	Mighty Wanderers	v.   Zambia ; 26 March 2024
MF	Chimwemwe Idana	(1998-09-07) 7 September 1998 (age 26)	57	0	Silver Strikers	v.   Senegal ; 15 October 2024
MF	Robert Saizi	(2003-07-05) 5 July 2003 (age 21)	12	1	Nyasa Big Bullets	v.   Senegal ; 15 October 2024
MF	Chifundo Mphasi	(2004-10-17) 17 October 2004 (age 20)	15	2	Shamuel	v.   Senegal ; 11 October 2024PRE
MF	Patrick Macheso	(1997-05-07) 7 May 1997 (age 27)	2	0	Silver Strikers	v.   Burkina Faso ; 10 September 2024
MF	Crispin Mapemba	(2004-11-09) 9 November 2004 (age 20)	2	0	Nyasa Big Bullets	v.   Equatorial Guinea ; 10 June 2024
MF	Francisco Madinga	(2000-02-11) 11 February 2000 (age 25)	14	0	Mighty Wanderers	v.   Zambia ; 26 March 2024
FW	Zeliat Nkhoma	(1993-10-22) 22 October 1993 (age 31)	3	1	Kamuzu Barracks	v.   Burkina Faso 18 November 2024
FW	Christopher Kumwembe	(1997-01-21) 21 January 1997 (age 28)	9	1	Mighty Wanderers	v.   Equatorial Guinea ; 10 June 2024
FW	Olson Kanjira	(1995-03-29) 29 March 1995 (age 30)	2	0	Kamuzu Barracks	v.   Zambia ; 26 March 2024
FW	Clement Nyondo	(1998-08-08) 8 August 1998 (age 26)	0	0	Mighty Wanderers	v.   Zambia ; 26 March 2024

Records

As of 18 November 2024 ^[8]

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
	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	2006–2023
8	Peterkins Kayira	18	68	0.26	1983–1989
	Gabadinho Mhango	18	72	0.25	2012–present
10	Barnet Gondwe	17	66	0.26	1976–1981

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	Not a FIFA member										Not a FIFA member
1970	Did not enter										Did not enter
1974
1978	Did not qualify										2	0	0	2	0	5
1982											2	0	1	1	1	4
1986											4	2	1	1	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										6	2	0	4	4	6
2030											To be determined
2034
Total		0/14									72	18	17	37	63	101

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										6	1	2	3	4	10
2025											6	1	1	4	6	11
2027	To be determined										To be determined
2029
Total	Round of 16	3/35	10	2	2	6	9	15			122	33	31	58	131	186

African Games

Year	Result	Pld	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 24 March 2025 after match against   Tunisia ^[9]

  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
Bangladesh	1	0	1	0	1	1	0
Benin	2	1	0	1	1	1	0
Botswana	25	12	8	5	47	21	+26
Burkina Faso	8	1	2	5	8	13	−5
Burundi	5	0	3	2	6	9	−3
Cameroon	11	1	4	6	6	19	−13
Chad	6	3	1	2	15	10	+5
Comoros	5	4	0	1	7	3	+4
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	12	3	2	7	8	20	−12
Eritrea	1	1	0	0	3	2	+1
Eswatini	28	11	12	5	41	22	+19
Ethiopia	14	4	7	3	13	14	–1
Equatorial Guinea	1	0	0	1	0	1	–1
Gabon	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2
Ghana	6	0	1	5	0	17	−17
Guinea	10	1	4	5	9	14	−5
Ivory Coast	8	1	1	6	8	17	−9
Kenya	48	19	18	11	61	50	+11
Lesotho	23	13	6	4	46	16	+30
Liberia	4	1	1	2	1	2	−1
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	21	12	5	4	33	19	+14
Morocco	11	1	3	7	4	17	−13
Mozambique	37	13	14	10	37	34	+3
Namibia	17	4	4	9	16	22	−6
Nigeria	8	0	2	6	9	20	−11
Réunion	1	1	0	0	8	2	+6
Rwanda	9	5	2	2	16	9	+7
São Tomé and Príncipe	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2
Senegal	7	1	1	5	6	14	−8
Seychelles	2	2	0	0	5	0	+5
Sierra Leone	4	3	1	0	14	5	+9
Somalia	3	3	0	0	6	2	+4
South Africa	14	1	4	9	5	20	−15
South Sudan	3	2	0	1	2	2	0
Sudan	3	2	1	0	6	1	+5
Tanzania	56	17	25	14	62	54	+8
Togo	3	2	1	0	3	1	+2
Tunisia	9	2	3	4	8	19	−11
Uganda	32	9	9	14	33	39	−6
Yemen	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1
Zambia	82	20	17	45	70	173	−103
Zanzibar	15	12	2	1	34	10	+24
Zimbabwe	67	19	23	25	64	85	−21
Total	675	224	198	253	787	872	−85

Honours

Continental

• Football at the African Games ¹
  • Bronze medal (1): 1987

Regional

• CECAFA Cup
  • Champions (3): 1978, 1979, 1988
  • Runners-up (3): 1975, 1984, 1989
  • Third place (3): 1977, 1980, 1985

1. Competition organized by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, officially not recognized by FIFA.

References

1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
2. "Malawi - List of International Matches". Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
3. "Throw Back Thursday with Mario Malawi Coaches Records... Compiled by Louis Alec Mario Antoine". Facebook. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
4. Antoine, M. (2022). A History of Nyasaland and Malawi Football: Volume 1 1935 to 1969. AuthorHouse UK. p. 1-PA2. ISBN   978-1-6655-9839-2 . Retrieved 4 January 2024.
5. "Splidsboel heads home". BBC SPORT. 27 November 2002. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
6. "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.
7. "Pasuwa names squad for WC qualifiers against Namibia and Tunisia". Football Association of Malawi. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
8. Mamrud, Roberto. "Malawi – Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
9. "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