Flames in Lilongwe ahead of Lesotho friendly

The Flames have relocated to Lilongwe, as they finalise preparations for their international friendly match against Lesotho’s Crocodiles this Saturday.

The encounter is part of efforts to measure the Malawi side’s readiness for back-to-back 2023 AFCON qualifiers against Egypt in Cairo and Lilongwe.

The Flames and the Pharaohs will meet between 20th and 28th March.

Flames coach, Mario Marinica, indicated earlier that his charges could not afford to stay idle while his opponents are preparing.

“It is very important for us to undertake this procedure because we are looking at our competitors who are not sleeping at the moment, so we cannot afford to sleep behind.” Justified the Romanian tactician.

Malawi is in group D along with Ethiopia, Egypt and Guinea and all the teams in the group are tied on three points.

Having registered a 2 nil home win against Ethiopia, in June last year, the Flames suffered a 2 nil defeat away to Guinea courtesy of a Naby Keita strike which came 3 minutes away from regulation time.

Last month, the Flames mentor named a 32-member squad that started to undergo non-residential fitness clinics in preparation for the qualifiers.

They are:

Clever Mkungula, Gomezgani Chirwa, Blessings Mpokera,Alick Lungu, Chimwemwe Idana, Patrick Mwaungulu, Sambani, Stanley Sanudi, Chiukepo Msowoya, Gaddie Chirwa, Muhammed Sulumba, Miracle Gabeya, Yamikani Chester, Chikoti Chirwa, Charles Thom, Nickson Mwase, Stenie, Davie, Lawrence Chaziya, Paul Ndlovu, Dan Chimbalanga, Kelvin Kadzinje, Micium Mhone, Gilbert Chirwa, Schumacher Kuwali, Brighton Munthali and Loyd Njaliwa.