The Football Association of Malawi (FAM), under the leadership of President Fleetwood Haiya, continues to demonstrate its commitment to Transforming the Game, with all national teams actively engaged in international competitions and development programmes since 2024.
The transformation drive gained momentum in 2024 when Malawi hosted international tournaments for both the senior national team and the Under-20 side during the FIFA window. The Flames faced Kenya and Zambia, while the Under-20 team emerged champions in their competition. This marked the beginning of an aggressive international engagement strategy across all national teams.
Since then, Malawi has ensured consistent participation at both continental and global levels, with the Scorchers and all junior teams taking part in various competitions.
In 2025, after Congo withdrew from the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the Scorchers engaged Zambia in two international friendlies before facing South Africa, and later Morocco and Ghana in further international assignments.
The Scorchers continued their upward trajectory with friendly matches against Lesotho before defeating Angola to secure a historic qualification to the WAFCON finals for the first time. FAM further organized a Women’s Three Nations Tournament involving Zambia and Zimbabwe, reinforcing competitive exposure.
The team is now set for another milestone as they prepare to participate in the FIFA Series Tournament in Kenya, where they will face Australia in what will be their first match against non-African opposition.
The Flames have also remained active, having played Botswana in July 2025 as part of independence celebrations and Lesotho during the November FIFA window, and are currently competing in the Four Nations Tournament in Botswana.
At youth level, the Under-20 Women’s National Team is on the verge of making history, progressing through qualifiers against Central African Republic, South Sudan and Guinea Bissau, and now set to face Nigeria in May.
The Under-17 boys have also maintained activity through COSAFA participation and international friendlies, including a match against South Africa U17.
Overall, Malawi’s national teams are now more active than ever, with junior sides consistently participating in qualifiers and regional competitions.
A notable highlight of this period came on Sunday, 11 May 2025, when three national teams were in action on the same day. The Flames faced South Africa in the CHAN qualifiers, the Under-20 Women’s team played Central African Republic at Bingu National Stadium in the FIFA U20 qualifiers, while the Under-17 Girls took on Comoros in a COSAFA fixture.
The Flames have played seven international friendlies in a short span, surpassing totals from previous years, while the Scorchers are set to register their 17th international match in Kenya, marking their highest level of activity since inception.
The continued implementation of FAM’s Transformation Agenda is clearly reshaping Malawian football, with increased international exposure, competitive growth and structured development across all national teams.
