FAM to decide on Flames next move after CAF postpones next year’s AFCON in Ivory Coast to 2024
The Football Association of Malawi says it will decide on whether the Flames have to play strength-testing matches in September after CAF moved next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast to 2024.
CAF President, speaking on the sidelines of an executive meeting in Morocco, said the change has come about due to heavy rains in the West African during summer.
The tournament was set for June and July next year, but instead will be played between January and February 2024.
Meanwhile, CAF has suspended September’s qualifiers in which the Flames would have played North African heavyweights, Egypt.
Reacting to the change, FAM General Secretary, Alfred Gift Gunda, said the association will use the opportunity to garner adequate resources for the Flames
‘We will meet soon with other stakeholders to see what we can do to keep the Flames in shape ahead of the resumption of the qualifiers next year. But what is of paramount importance is garnering enough resources to make sure the team prepares well’, said Gunda.
But a local football analyst, George Chiusiwa, says Chiwembe should utilize the opportunity to arrange some games for the national team.
The Flames are set to compete at this year’s COSAFA Cup tournament which kicks-off on Tuesday in Durban and the Flames will take on Lesotho on 06th July in their opening fixture.