Malawi shelve confirmation of 2017 Africa Cup qualifiers

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has said it will not confirm participation in the 2017 African Cup of Nations until Confederation of African Football (CAF)  clarifies the dates.

According to FAM president Water Nyamilandu, the decision was decided by  the association’s executive committee  meeting held on Saturday, January 31  in Blantyre in view of the dates set by CAF that the opening qualifiers will be held in June, which will be within the current financial year whose allocation FAM has already exhausted.

CAF announced  that June 8 and 16 will be the dates for  the opening qualifiers .

Nyamilandu said the meeting agreed to take part in the Championship of African Nations (Chan) and the Cosafa Cup using funds that are available such as the K50 million from Carlsberg Malawi Limited and part of funding from Fifa.

He said FAM want “clarification” from CAF  on whether Afcon qualifiers will run concurrently with Chan.

Nyamilandu said  it will be “ awkward “ that the two tournaments should be held within the same period.