Men's National Team

The Malawi national football team, nicknamed The Flames, is the national team of Malawi and is controlled by the Football Association of Malawi. Before 1966 they were known as the Nyasaland national football team. They have never qualified for the World Cup finals, and have twice reached the finals of the Africa Cup of Nation in 1984 and mostly recently in 2010. Their best performance was winning the bronze medal at the 1987 All-Africa Games.

Fast Facts

NicknameThe Flames
AssociationFootball Association of Malawi
Sub-confederationCOSAFA (Southern Africa)
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Head CoachMeck Mwase
CaptainJohn Banda
Home StadiumKamuzu Stadium
FIFA Ranking123
Highest FIFA Ranking53 (December 1992)
Lowest FIFA138 (December 2007, March 2008)
First InternationalZambia 8 Malawi 0 (Harare, Zimbabwe, 20 April 2002)
Biggest WinsMalawi- Malawi 8–1 Botswana (Malawi; 13 July 1968) Malawi 8–1 Djibouti (Blantyre, Malawi; 31 May 2008)
Biggest DefeatNyasaland 0–12 Gold Coast (Malawi; 15 October 1962)

Flames Achievements

COSAFA – 2 Times Runners-up (2002,2003)  

COSAFA – Plate winners (2015)  

 CECAFA – 3 Times Champion (1978/79/88)

Africa Cup of Nations

1957 to 1974 – Did not enter

1976 to 1982 – Did not qualify

1984 – Round 1

1986 to 2008 – Did not qualify

2010 – Round 1

2012 to 2019 – Did not qualify

World Cup Record

1957 to 1974 – Did not enter

1976 to 1982 – Did not qualify

1984 – Round 1

1986 to 2008 – Did not qualify

2010 – Round 1

2012 to 2019 – Did not qualify

COSAFA Cup

1997 – (Group Stages)     

1998 & 1999 (Preliminary Round)

2000 – (Quarterfinals

2001 – (Semifinals)

2002 & 2003 – (Runners Up)

2004 – (Quarterfinals

2005 – 2008 –(Group Stages

2009- (Quarterfinals)

2013 – (group Stages)

2015 (Quarterfinals and Plate Winners)

2016-2018 (Group Stages)

2019 (Quarterfinals and Plate Runners Up