Malawi coach names squad for World Cup qualifiers against Sao Tome, Equatorial Guinea
Malawi is in Group D alongside Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, Sao Tome, and Liberia for the qualifiers.
BLANTYRE, Malawi— Malawi national football team coach Patrick Mabedi has finalized his 26-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Sao Tome and Equatorial Guinea, writes Happy Valirani.
The squad, announced Sunday after a three-week training camp in Blantyre, includes seven foreign-based players and 19 local talents.
Notable omissions are striker Gabadinho Mhango of South Africa's Moroka Swallows and midfielder Llyod Njaliwa from Mozambique's Costa Do Sol.
"We've been preparing intensively at Mpira village in Chiwembe," Mabedi said. "The team will continue camping in Lilongwe on Monday."
Mabedi has introduced new faces like Zeliat Nkhoma, the Super League's current leading goal scorer from Kamuzu Barracks, and Silver Strikers' in-form midfielder Uchizi Vunga and defender Maxwell Paipi.
"I'm excited to bring in fresh talent that's been making waves in our local league," he added.
The Flames will host Sao Tome at Lilongwe's Bingu National Stadium on June 6 before traveling to Malabo to face Equatorial Guinea on June 10.
Malawi is in Group D alongside Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, Sao Tome, and Liberia for the qualifiers.