Reviewed by Peter KanjereMalawi sports betting writer
Published 21 September 2026 · Updated 27 September 2026
Kalisto Pasuwa has named a provisional Flames squad carrying six players who have never been capped, and Malawi open their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign at home to South Sudan this week before travelling to Angola on 6 October.
Pasuwa read the list at Mpira Village in Chiwembe, Blantyre, on Monday 14 September. Six of the players named have never appeared for the senior side, and four of those six are based outside Malawi.
Six in line for a first cap
Blessings Kanowa of Nankatsu SC in Japan, Shaquille Gwengwe of Newport County in Wales and Adiel Kaduya, a university player in the United States, are the newcomers based overseas, along with a forward at Zacatepec in Mexico. Peter Ng’ambi of Mighty Wanderers and Ajussa Kalowa of Blue Eagles come in from the FDH Bank Premiership. Gwengwe has since withdrawn. Newport County said he had decided not to join the squad because of the circumstances of this window, and the Football Association of Malawi gave personal reasons.
The list is provisional. It leans heavily on players based abroad, which is what the domestic calendar allows: the FDH Bank Premiership stopped for this window and does not restart until 10 October.
Update, 27 September 2026: Malawi beat South Sudan by two goals to one at the Bingu National Stadium on 25 September.
Group B and the road to 2027
Malawi are in Group B with Egypt, Angola and South Sudan, and the top two qualify for the finals that Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda host in 2027. Egypt have won the tournament seven times. That arithmetic puts the weight on the four matches against South Sudan and Angola rather than on the two against the Pharaohs.
South Sudan come to Malawi first. Angola then host the Flames at the Estádio Nacional 11 de Novembro in Luanda on 6 October, and the two meetings with Egypt follow in November.
Where to bet: Premier Bet, licensed by the Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority, prices AFCON qualifying in kwacha, with match result, double chance, over and under and correct score, and deposits through Airtel Money and Mpamba. Qualifying group prices move most when a squad list lands and again when it is trimmed, so the market on Malawi to progress is worth checking twice this week. Compare the same line at more than one operator before kick off. Our guide to the best betting sites in Malawi covers licensing and payout times, and there is more in Malawi soccer news from AXN Sports. 18+. Gamble responsibly.
