Blue Eagles goalkeeper Brighton Munthali has been ruled out of the Flames’ Group L Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after sustaining a shoulder injury on Sunday.
Munthali sustained the injury just before post-match penalties and was replaced by Joshua Waka, who helped Eagles beat FCB Nyasa Big Bullets 3-2 to win the FDH Bank Cup for the first time.
Flames coach Patrick Mabedi confirmed that Munthali would not be part of the senior squad when facing Burundi on Thursday at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe and Burkina Faso on Monday, September 9.
Mabedi said he was saddened by the injury as he wanted stiff competition in the squad.
“We have been communicated to on the issue of injury but all other players are okay. Let us see how it goes,” the Flames mentor said.
Earlier, Mabedi expressed discontent with the camp duration which, he said, was not enough ahead of the back-to-back matches.
Meanwhile, former Flames right back Elvis Kafoteka has backed the coach on his concerns regarding camping duration, saying the time is not enough.
“While we appreciate that it is not possible to have two-week or one week camping in modern football, the current situation is not healthy.
“The Flames are heading into back-to-back Afcon qualifiers without playing friendly matches, having last played a match in June,” he said.
Meanwhile, all foreign country-based players arrived in the country yesterday.
According to the Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Facebook page, the Zambia-based trio of Chifundo Mphasi, Chawanangwa Kaonga and Robert Saizi as well as the TP Mazembe duo of Lanjesi Nkhoma and Patrick Mwaungulu were the last to arrive in the country.
Fam indicated that captain John Banda arrived Monday in the morning while midfielder Yamikani Chester joined the team later.
Defender Denis Chembezi, who plies his trade in Iraq, joined camp on Friday.
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