Malawi National Football Team

Before 1966, it was known as the Nyasaland national football team.

Malawi

Nickname(s)	Flames
Association	Football Association of Malawi
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	COSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coach	Patrick Mabedi
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	125 3 (4 April 2024)
Highest	53 (December 1992)
Lowest	138 (December 2007, March 2008)
First international
Nyasaland 0–5 Northern Rhodesia  (Malawi; 1957)
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)
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)
Four Nations Football Tournament
Appearances	1 (first in 2024)
Best result	Fourth place (2024)
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

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, and they also got fourth place in the 2024 Four Nations Football Tournament.

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.

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]}

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

Malawi   v   Egypt

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)

Mozambique   v   Malawi

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

Ethiopia   v   Malawi

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)

Zambia   v   Malawi

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

Malawi   v   Seychelles

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

Malawi   v   Comoros

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

Malawi   v   Lesotho

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

Malawi   v   South Africa

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

Malawi   v   Guinea

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)

Liberia   v   Malawi

17 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Liberia	0–1	Malawi	Paynesville, Liberia
16:00 UTC±0		Report	Mphasi   78'	Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Referee: Antoine Effa (Cameroon)

Malawi   v   Tunisia

21 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Malawi	0–1	Tunisia	Lilongwe, Malawi
15:00 UTC+2		Report	Msakni   87' (pen.)	Stadium: Bingu National Stadium Attendance: 23,000 Referee: Aklesso Gnama (Togo)

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

Position	Name
Head Coach	Patrick Mabedi
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 Lado
Media Manager	Gomegzani Zakazaka
Chaplain	Chancy Gondwe
Assistant Technical Manager	Steve Madeira

Coaching history

Caretaker coaches are listed in italics

Current squad

The following local-based players were named to the provisional squad for the four-nations tournament friendly matches against Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe in March 2024.

Caps and goals correct as of: 21 November 2023, after the match against Tunisia.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Innocent Nyasulu	(1997-04-16) 16 April 1997 (age 27)	1	0	Mighty Tigers
	1GK	Austin Chirambo	(2003-12-31) 31 December 2003 (age 20)	0	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
	1GK	George Chikooka		0	0	Silver Strikers
	2DF	Stanley Sanudi	(1995-02-02) 2 February 1995 (age 29)	86	1	Mighty Wanderers
	2DF	Lawrence Chaziya	(1998-08-19) 19 August 1998 (age 25)	14	1	Mighty Wanderers
	2DF	Nickson Mwase	(1997-02-20) 20 February 1997 (age 27)	9	0	Silver Strikers
	2DF	Daniel Chimbalanga	(1999-01-19) 19 January 1999 (age 25)	3	0	MAFCO
	2DF	Blessings Mpokera	(2002-04-02) 2 April 2002 (age 22)	2	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
	2DF	Mark Lameck		0	0	Silver Strikers
	2DF	Chimwemwe Nkhoma		0	0	Mighty Wanderers
	2DF	Yamikani Mologeni		0	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
	2DF	Alex Kambilinya		0	0	Wakawaka Tigers
	2DF	Joseph Balakasi		0	0	Dedza Dynamos
	3MF	Chimwemwe Idana	(1998-09-07) 7 September 1998 (age 25)	50	0	Silver Strikers
	3MF	Francisco Madinga	(2000-02-11) 11 February 2000 (age 24)	14	0	Mighty Wanderers
	3MF	Lanjesi Nkhoma	(2002-05-27) 27 May 2002 (age 21)	10	2	Nyasa Big Bullets
	3MF	Lloyd Aron	(2003-01-08) 8 January 2003 (age 21)	9	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
	3MF	Patrick Mwaungulu	(2002-02-18) 18 February 2002 (age 22)	8	1	Nyasa Big Bullets
	3MF	Wisdom Mpinganjira	(2002-07-08) 8 July 2002 (age 21)	3	0	Mighty Wanderers
	3MF	Chrispin Mapemba		2	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
	3MF	Yankho Singo	(2000-04-01) 1 April 2000 (age 24)	0	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
	3MF	Wongani Lungu		0	0	Ekwendeni Hammers
	3MF	Patrick Macheso	(1997-05-07) 7 May 1997 (age 26)	1	0	Silver Strikers
	4FW	Christopher Kumwembe	(1997-01-21) 21 January 1997 (age 27)	9	1	Mighty Wanderers
	4FW	Olson Kanjira	(1995-03-29) 29 March 1995 (age 29)	2	0	Kamuzu Barracks
	3MF	Ephraim Kondowe	(2002-01-02) 2 January 2002 (age 22)	0	0	Nyasa Big Bullets
	3MF	Clement Nyondo		0	0	Mighty Wanderers

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 26)	35	0	Blue Eagles	v.   Tunisia; 21 November 2023
GK	Clever Nkungula	(2000-02-13) 13 February 2000 (age 24)	4	0	Nyasa Big Bullets	v.   Guinea; 9 September 2023
GK	Cyrus Mchawa	(1997-04-16) April 16, 1997 (age 27)	1	0	Mighty Tigers	2023 COSAFA Cup
GK	Harold Mwase	(1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 25)	0	0	Nyasa Big Bullets	2023 COSAFA Cup
GK	Charles Thomu	(1999-01-24) 24 January 1999 (age 25)	7	0	Silver Strikers	v.   Egypt; 28 March 2023
DF	Dennis Chembezi	(1997-01-15) 15 January 1997 (age 27)	44	0	Black Leopards	v.   Tunisia; 21 November 2023
DF	Simeon Mwenechanya	(1999-01-19) 19 January 1999 (age 25)	3	0	MAFCO	2023 COSAFA Cup
DF	Christopher Chikoti	(1999-01-16) 16 January 1999 (age 25)	0	0	Blue Eagles	2023 COSAFA Cup
DF	Gomezgani Chirwa	(1996-09-25) 25 September 1996 (age 27)	24	0	Nyasa Big Bullets	v.   Egypt; 28 March 2023
DF	Miracle Gabeya	(1996-01-14) 14 January 1996 (age 28)	14	1	Mighty Wanderers	v.   Egypt; 28 March 2023
DF	Paul Ndhlovu	(1992-02-18) 18 February 1992 (age 32)	5	0	Malawi Armed Forces College	v.   Egypt; 28 March 2023
DF	Kelvin Kadzinje	(1999-04-04) 4 April 1999 (age 25)	2	0	CIVO United	v.   Egypt; 28 March 2023
DF	Kieran Ngwenya	(2002-09-25) 25 September 2002 (age 21)	1	0	Raith Rovers	v.   Egypt; 28 March 2023
MF	John Banda	(1993-08-20) 20 August 1993 (age 30)	91	7	Songo	v.   Tunisia; 21 November 2023
MF	Chifundo Mphasi	(2004-10-17) 17 October 2004 (age 19)	8	1	Shamuel	v.   Tunisia; 21 November 2023
MF	Robert Saizi	(2003-07-05) 5 July 2003 (age 20)	6	1	Nyasa Big Bullets	v.   Tunisia; 21 November 2023
MF	Frank Willard	(2001-05-09) 9 May 2001 (age 22)	5	0	Nyasa Big Bullets	v.   Liberia; 17 November 2023
MF	Alick Lungu	(2002-03-24) 24 March 2002 (age 22)	10	0	Nyasa Big Bullets	2023 COSAFA Cup
MF	Julius Phiri	(2003-07-05) 5 July 2003 (age 20)	3	0	Nyasa Big Bullets	2023 COSAFA Cup
MF	Kenneth Mhango	(1998-06-06) 6 June 1998 (age 25)	2	0	Nyasa Big Bullets	2023 COSAFA Cup
MF	Jonathan Mchulu	(2003-12-27) 27 December 2003 (age 20)	2	0	Bangwe All Stars	2023 COSAFA Cup
MF	Anthony Chisale	(1997-05-07) 7 May 1997 (age 26)	1	0	Silver Strikers	2023 COSAFA Cup
MF	Goodwin Kamuzu	(2003-11-28) 28 November 2003 (age 20)	1	0	Ekwendeni Hammers	2023 COSAFA Cup
MF	Dennis Chirwa	(1998-01-29) 29 January 1998 (age 26)	0	0	Silver Strikers	2023 COSAFA Cup
MF	Chikoti Chirwa	(1992-09-19) 19 September 1992 (age 31)	37	2	Costa do Sol	v.   Ethiopia; 20 June 2023
MF	Micium Mhone	(1992-01-19) 19 January 1992 (age 32)	59	6	Blue Eagles	v.   Egypt; 28 March 2023
MF	Charles Petro	(2001-02-08) 8 February 2001 (age 23)	30	0	FC Botoșani	v.   Egypt; 28 March 2023
MF	Gilbert Chirwa	(1994-02-14) 14 February 1994 (age 30)	4	0	Blue Eagles	v.   Egypt; 28 March 2023
MF	Chawanangwa Gumbo	(2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 23)	0	0	Nyasa Big Bullets	v.   Egypt; 28 March 2023
FW	Gabadinho Mhango	(1992-09-27) 27 September 1992 (age 31)	68	17	Moroka Swallows	v.   Liberia; 17 November 2023
FW	Richard Mbulu	(1994-01-25) 25 January 1994 (age 30)	41	5	Al-Najaf	v.   Guinea; 9 September 2023
FW	Peter Banda	(2000-09-22) 22 September 2000 (age 23)	24	0	Simba	v.   Guinea; 9 September 2023
FW	Chawanangwa Kawonga	(1995-01-05) 5 January 1995 (age 29)	21	2	Zanaco	2023 COSAFA Cup
FW	Gaddie Chirwa	(1997-11-30) 30 November 1997 (age 26)	8	0	Mighty Wanderers	2023 COSAFA Cup
FW	Yamikani Chester	(1994-12-20) 20 December 1994 (age 29)	40	1	Costa do Sol	v.   Ethiopia; 20 June 2023
FW	Loyd Njaliwa	(1998-05-24) 24 May 1998 (age 25)	6	0	Moyale Barracks	v.   Ethiopia; 20 June 2023
FW	Chiukepo Msowoya	(1988-09-23) 23 September 1988 (age 35)	89	22	Mighty Wanderers	v.   Egypt; 28 March 2023
FW	Stain Davie	(1997-09-23) 23 September 1997 (age 26)	11	0	Silver Strikers	v.   Egypt; 28 March 2023

As of 16 July 2023
Players in bold are still active with Malawi.

Most appearances

Top goalscorers

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup											Qualification
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Squad		Pld	W	D	L	F	A
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	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										2	1	0	1	1	1
2030											To be determined
2034
Total		0/14									68	17	16	35	60	96

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
2027
Total	Round of 16	3/36	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

As of 17 November 2019 after match against   Uganda

  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