Malawi National Football Team Coach Patrick Mabedi has a full squad ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Senegal in Dakar, Senegal, Friday.
This comes after the Mozambique-based trio of captain John Banda, striker Lloyd Njaliwa, winger Yamikani Chester and Iraq-based defender Dennis Chembezi joined camp on Tuesday.
According to the Football Association of Malawi (Fam) website, Mabedi had all the players during Wednesday’s training session.
The session took place at Guere’o Centre.
Other foreign country-based players, notably Patrick Mwaungulu, Lanjesi Nkhoma (both TP Mazembe), Chawanangwa Kaonga, Robert Saizi (both Zanaco), joined the camp on Monday.
Mabedi said the players were in high spirits ahead of the clash against Senegal tomorrow.
“We started very well, though the players looked tired due to jet lag. We are getting there slowly,” Mabedi said on Monday.
Mozambique-based striker Richard Mbulu was ruled out of the qualifiers due to injury.
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers attacker Isaac Kaliati replaced him. Goalkeeper William Thole, defender Precious Sambani and striker Chifundo Mphasi are on standby.
Mabedi will hope for a perfect response from his charges after back-to-back defeats to Burundi (3-2) and Burkina Faso (3-1) in the opening matches.
The Flames anchor Group L without a point from two matches.
Burkina Faso top the group with four points from two matches, and are above Senegal on goal difference.
Burundi are third with three points from the same number of matches.
Meanwhile, sports analyst Sherry Msuku has said the Flames need to show great character against the former African champions.
“We should not underrate ourselves. It is good that the players arrived in Senegal early to acclimatise,” Msuku said.
The Flames will host Senegal at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Tuesday next week.
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