Malawi will not withdraw in Africa Nations Cup despite financial woes

The Flames will not withdraw from the final Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers due to financial problems as earlier feared as the Football Association of Malawi (Fam) president, Walter Nyamilandu, has assured the team will honours its last two 2015 qualifiers are at home to Mali on 15 November before travelling to Ethiopia four days later.

“We have also organised a a $50,000 overdraft facility from the bank which has been guaranteed by our sponsor Carlsberg Malawi.

“We then hope to raise $20,000 from gate takings when Malawi play Mali next week Saturday with $30,000 hoped to be raised from adverting – as the game will be televised on subscription TV,” said Nyamilandu.

If they had withdrawn from the competition the rules state they would have been fined US$10,000 and not been allowed to participate in the qualifying for the 2017 Nations Cup.

Nyamilandu said Malawi still have a realistic chance of reaching the finals in January.

Malawi are currently third in Group B just three points behind Mali in the battle for second place, with Algeria having already claimed one of the automatic qualifying spots.