In an interview after being ushered in during an elective general assembly in Ivory Coast to take over the Council of Southern Africa Football Association (Cosafa) slot from Mohamed Ally Sobha of Mauritius, whom he beat by 35 votes against 15, he said he was grateful for the overwhelming support that gave him a landslide victory.

The third candidate Mokhosi Mohapi from Lesotho got three.

Said Nyamilandu: “I treasure their trust and confidence in my leadership. “I look forward to playing my meaningful role in moving African football forward.”

The former Fifa Council member dedicated his victory to the people of Malawi.

“They [Malawians] deserve to be on  the frontline of shaping and influencing the future of the world. It is my sincere hope that this victory will inspire my fellow Malawians to keep pursuing their dreams and not to be frustrated by setbacks that will come in their way,” he said.

Nyamilandu thanked his family, friends and football loving officials “for their unyielding support”.

He said:” Above all, I would like to thank Almighty Lord, who works in mysterious ways, for making a way where there was no way.”

Reacting to the election, Malawi National Council of Sports board chairperson Sunduzwayo Madise said Nyamilandu has done Malawi proud.

He said: “On behalf of the council, the whole sporting fraternity and on my own behalf, I congratulate Mr Walter Nyamilandu on this momentous and great victory. “This means Malawi will now be at the table where key football decisions involving football in Africa are made.

“This is not just an achievement for Mr Nyamilandu only but also for us as a country. This is great news and worth celebrating from all the four corners of Malawi.”

CAF president Patrice Motsepe, who applauded Nyamilandu for his outstanding work at FAM, announced the results monitored on CAF online television.

In 2018, Nyamilandu was also elected into Fifa Council