The Malawi national football team () represents Malawi in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Malawi. Before 1966, it was known as the Nyasaland national football team.
Known as the Flames, Malawi has qualified for three Africa Cup of Nations, in 1984, 2010 and 2021. They also won the CECAFA Cup in 1978, 1979 and 1988 and finished fourth in the 2024 Four Nations Football Tournament.
History Coaches The first full-time coach of the Malawi national football team was Ron Meades. The British Council arranged for his appointment through the English Football Association to coach the team for the Republic Celebrations, playing Madagascar and Zambia. Ray Batchelor was coach for four years from 11 November 1967 to 10 October 1971, guiding the team in 23 friendly matches and two Olympic Games. Players during this time included future coaches in Henry Moyo, Brian Griffin, and Yasin Osman. Other coaches included Brazilian Wander Moreira, British Ted Powell, and the first locally-born coach, Alex Masanjala, who was appointed as an interim before Henry Moyo. Moyo was the first former national player to coach the Flames, and stayed in the position for five years. As of January 2019, only nine coaches had been in charge for more than 20 games. The most successful coaches were Powell, Moyo, and Kim Splidsboel (2000–2002) from Denmark.
Tournaments Malawi first qualified for an African Cup of Nations in 1984, when only eight teams competed in the tournament in Ivory Coast. After a 3-0 defeat against Algeria, World Cup participants in 1982 and 1986, the Malawi drew 2-2 in the second game against eventual finalists Nigeria. With a 0–1 loss against Ghana, Malawi ended the group stage with 1 point at the bottom of the table and was eliminated from the tournament.
After 26 years, Malawi took part in an Africa Cup of Nations again in 2010. The team benefited from the fact that the continental elimination round for the 2010 FIFA World Cup also served as the qualifying round for AFCON. In the group matches of the third round, Malawi, third place behind Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso and with a record of only four points and 4–11 goal difference, was enough to make it to the continental finals.
At the tournament in Angola, Kinnah Phiri's team caused a big surprise. In the first group game, Malawi defeated Algeria, which had qualified for the World Cup, 3-0. One of the goalscorers was striker Russel Mwafulirwa, who at the time was under contract for the Swedish first division club IFK Norrköping and was thus one of only two players in the 23-man squad active in Europe. Malawi lost the second game against hosts Angola, 2-0.
For Malawi to have reached the quarter-finals for the first time, a draw in the last group game would have been enough. However, the team lost 3-1 to Mali. After just three minutes, the Malawians were 2-0 down, a goal from Mwafulirwa did nothing to avert the team's elimination.
Results and fixtures The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
2025
2026
2027
Coaching staff
Position Name Head Coach Callisto Pasuwa 1st Assistant coach Peter Mponda 2nd Assistant coach Macdonald Mtetemela Goalkeeping coach Simplex Nthala Team manager James Sangala Fitness Coach Peter Mgangira Technical Adviser Aubrey Nankhuni Data Analyst Taonga Chimodzi Physiotherapist Dexter Killi Team Doctor Dr. Levison Mwale Kitmaster Richard Justin Lado Media Manager Gomegzani Zakazaka Chaplain Chancy Gondwe Assistant Technical Manager Steve Madeira
Coaching history
Caretaker coaches are listed in italics
Jack Chamangwana (1998–99) Young Chimodzi (1999–00) Kim Splidsboel (2000–02) Alan Gillett (2003) Edington Ng'onamo (2003–04) John Kaputa (2004) Yassin Osman (2004–05) Michael Hennigan (2005) Burkhard Ziese (2005–06) Kinnah Phiri (2006–07) Stephen Constantine (2007–08) Kinnah Phiri (2009–12) Edington Ng'onamo (2012–13) Tom Saintfiet (2013) Young Chimodzi (2014–15) Ernest Mtawali (2015–16) Ramadhan Nsanzurwimo (2016–17) Gerald Phiri Sr. (2017) Ronny Van Geneugden (2017–19) Meke Mwase (2019–2021) Mario Marinică (2021–2023) Patrick Mabedi (2023–2024) Kalisto Pasuwa (2024–present)
Players
Current squad The following players were named to the squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches South Sudan and Angola on 25 September and 5 October 2026; respectively.
Caps and goals correct as of 9 June 2026, after the match against Ethiopia.
Recent call-ups The following players have been called up in 12 months preceding the above draft.
Records
Players in bold are still active with Malawi.
Most appearances
RankPlayerCapsGoalsCareer 1 Young Chimodzi 159 13 2 Jack Chamangwana 133 10 1975–1985 3 Lawrence Waya 129 28 1982–1996 4 Harry Waya 126 8 1977–1987 5 Kinnah Phiri 117 71 1973–1981 6 Gilbert Chirwa 112 4 1981–1993 7 Jonathan Billie 110 8 1978–1987 8 Joseph Kamwendo 104 6 2003–2017 9 Felix Nyirongo 103 2 1986–1997 10 Peter Mponda 102 1 1998–2011
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerGoalsCapsRatioCareer 1 Kinnah Phiri 71 117 1973–19812 Frank Sinalo 28 75 1981–1989 Lawrence Waya 28 129 1982–1996 4 Stock Dandize 23 70 1977–19835 Yasin Osman 22 67 1966–1975 Essau Kanyenda 22 72 1999–2015 Chiukepo Msowoya 22 89 2006–2023 8 Gabadinho Mhango 20 75 2012–present 9 Peterkins Kayira 18 68 1983–1989 10 Barnet Gondwe 17 66 1976–1981
Competition records
FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup recordQualification recordYearRoundPositionSquad 1966Not a FIFA memberNot a FIFA member 1970Did not enterDid not enter 1974 1978Did not qualify200205 1982201114 1986421152 1990823366 1994WithdrewWithdrew 1998Did not qualify200204 20028125612 2006122461527 2010125161816 2014614145 2018210112 20228215312 2026104151110 2030To be determinedTo be determined 2034Total7620183870105
Africa Cup of Nations Africa Cup of Nations recordQualification recordYearRoundPosition*Squad 1965Not affiliated to CAFNot affiliated to CAF 1968 1970 1972 1974Did not enterDid not enter 1976Did not qualify201149 1978201134 1980410367 1982201112 1984Group stage7th301226Squad431062 1986Did not qualify202022 1988200214 1990412154 1992401339 1994621347 1996613267 19986303910 2000210122 2002200225 20044103310 2006122461527 2008410326 2010Group stage11th310245Squad6402145 2012Did not qualify8260138 2013410346 2015621359 2017621359 2019612326 2021Round of 1613th411234Squad631245 2023Did not qualify6123410 20256114611 2027To be determinedTo be determined 2029TotalRound of 163/3510226915122333158131186
African Games YearResultPldWDLGFGA 1965Did not qualify 1973Did not qualify 19784th5005211 19873rd531184Total2/4103161015
Head-to-head record As of 25 September 2026 after match against South Sudan
OpponentPldWDLGFGAGD 7 2 1 4 6 13 −7 10 3 3 4 8 11 −3 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 27 12 9 6 48 23 +25 8 1 2 5 8 13 −5 5 0 3 2 6 9 −3 11 1 4 6 6 19 −13 6 3 1 2 15 10 +5 5 4 0 1 7 3 +4 2 0 0 2 1 3 −2 4 4 0 0 17 1 +16 10 3 3 4 8 9 −1 12 3 2 7 8 20 −12 1 1 0 0 3 2 +1 28 11 12 5 41 22 +19 16 4 8 4 14 16 –2 1 0 0 1 0 1 –1 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 6 0 1 5 0 17 −17 10 1 4 5 9 14 −5 8 1 1 6 8 17 −9 48 19 18 11 61 50 +11 26 14 7 5 47 17 +30 5 1 2 2 3 4 −1 3 0 1 2 3 5 −2 10 2 1 7 12 21 −9 5 1 1 3 5 8 −3 21 12 5 4 33 19 +14 11 1 3 7 4 17 −13 37 13 14 10 37 34 +3 19 5 5 9 18 23 −5 8 0 2 6 9 20 −11 1 1 0 0 8 2 +6 9 5 2 2 16 9 +7 2 1 0 1 3 2 +1 7 1 1 5 6 14 −8 2 2 0 0 5 0 +5 4 3 1 0 14 5 +9 3 3 0 0 6 2 +4 14 1 4 9 5 20 −15 4 3 0 1 4 3 +1 3 2 1 0 6 1 +5 56 17 25 14 62 54 +8 3 2 1 0 3 1 +2 9 2 3 4 8 19 −11 32 9 9 14 33 39 −6 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 82 20 17 45 70 173 −103 U23 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 15 12 2 1 34 10 +24 67 19 23 25 64 85 −21 Total 689 227 204 258 796 883 −87
Honours Continental African Games1 Bronze medal (1): 1987
Regional CECAFA Cup Champions (3): 1978, 1979, 1988 Runners-up (3): 1975, 1984, 1989 Third place (3): 1977, 1980, 1985 COSAFA Cup Runners-up (2): 2002, 2003
Notes Competition organized by ANOCA, officially not recognized by FIFA.
Notes
References
External links
Malawi at CAF Malawi at FIFA