Malawi National Football Team Coach Mario Marinica has named a 27-member final squad for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Egypt in Cairo this Friday.
Marinica has included nine foreign based players among them captain John Banda of UD Songo, Amazulu FC striker Gabadinho Mhango, Botosan FC defender-cum-midfielder Charles Petro and Black Leopards defender Dennis Chembezi.
Costa do Sol duo of Yamikani Chester, Chikoti Chirwa, Simba SC midfielder Peter Banda, Polokwane City striker Khuda Muyaba and Juaneng Galaxy FC midfielder Francisco Madinga are also in the final squad.
Out of the nine players, Banda and Madinga travelled with the team to Saudi Arabia for a week-long camp ahead of the clash.
Football Association of Malawi Communications and Competitions Director Gomezgani Zakazaka said the other six players arrived in Cairo in the early hours of Monday.
“Gaba will be the last player to join the team. Tentatively, he will arrive in Cairo around 1am on Tuesday,” Zakazaka said.
The Romanian has included 18 Malawi-based players in the final squad which arrived in Egypt later Monday.
Patrick Mwaungulu, Gaddie Chirwa, Frank Willard, Mark Fodya and Kelvin Kadzinje have also been included.
Marinica said the camp in Saudi Arabia was good.
“We are on track and we have done really well. The friendlies showed us some shortcomings. But Malawi is no longer a participating team but a competitive one. We hope the competitive edge will give us the points we want against Egypt,” he said.
The Flames will host Egypt at Bingu National Stadium next week. Malawi and Egypt have three points each.
The following is the full squad:
Goalkeepers: Charles Thom, Brighton Munthali, Clever Nkungula
Defenders: Lawrence Chaziya, Paul Ndlovu, Miracle Gabeya, Stanley Sanudi, Blessings Mpokera, Gomezgani Chirwa, Alick Lungu, Dennis Chembezi, Kelvin Kadzinje, Mark Fodya
Midfielders: Frank Willard, Charles Petro, Chimwemwe Idana, Yamikani Chester, Chikoti Chirwa, Peter Banda, Micium Mhone, John Banda, Francisco Madinga ,Patrick Mwaungulu
Strikers :Gabadinho Mhango, Stain Dave ,Khuda Myaba,Gaddie Chirwa
