Thole Dropped as Pasuwa Names 25-Man Malawi Squad for Egypt Qualifiers

Written by Peter Kanjere
Malawi sports betting writer
Published 5 November 2026

Malawi national football team coach Kalisto Pasuwa has named a 25-member squad for the back-to-back 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group stage qualifying matches against Egypt on 11 and 17 November.

The Flames, as Malawi are affectionately called, will take on the Pharaohs on 11 November in Cairo before hosting them in Lilongwe six days later in Group B ties.

Pasuwa has maintained the squad that faced South Sudan and Angola in Group B ties in September, apart from first-choice goalkeeper William Thole, who has been dropped due to a lack of game time at Simba Bhora FC in Zimbabwe.

A statement on the Football Association of Malawi website confirms Pasuwa’s decision, saying: “Defender Denis Chembezi has also been left out due to injury, while goalkeeper William Thole misses out because of a lack of game time at his club.”

Other absentees include America-based striker Mayele Malango, whose club Sacramento Republic FC is involved in the Western Conference semi-finals of the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs.

Pasuwa has since recalled TP Mazembe forward Lanjesi Nkhoma, who was left out of the recent matches against South Sudan and Angola.

Malawi’s full squad

• Goalkeepers: Innocent Nyasulu (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets), George Chikooka (Silver Strikers) and Precious Masamba (Blue Eagles).
• Defenders: Washali Jaziya (Nankatsu SC), Gomezgani Chirwa (Ngezi Platinum), McDonald Rameck (Hardrock), Emmanuel Nyirenda (Mighty Wanderers), Charles Petro (Botosani), Blessings Mpokera (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets) and Nickson Nyasulu (Scottland FC).
• Midfielders: Yankho Singo (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets), Chikumbutso Salima (Al-Merrikh SC), Lloyd Njaliwa (CAPS United) and Festus Duwe (Silver Strikers).
• Forwards: Babatunde Adepoju (Costa do Sol), Ephraim Kondowe (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets), Richard Mbulu (Costa do Sol), Adiel Kaduya (Mustangs University), Francisco Madinga (Kansanshi Dynamos), Patrick Mwaungulu (TP Mazembe), Gaddie Chirwa (Mighty Wanderers), Lanjesi Nkhoma (TP Mazembe), Wisedinho Mpinganjira (Black Bulls) and Mwisho Mhango (Hannover 96).