Pasuwa rings changes again

Flames coach Kalisto Pasuwa has made several changes to his squad of local players for the Four Nations Tournament, leaving out some regulars while introducing new faces. The Zimbabwean tactician yesterday named a 23-member squad for the tournament scheduled for March 23 to 31 in Botswana. According to the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), the team will start camp on Saturday as part of preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.

A comparison between the local squads Pasuwa assembled for the 2025 Cosafa Cup, 2026 World Cup qualifiers and international friendly matches against Lesotho and the latest selection suggests the coach is still reshaping the team. A number of players from the three previous squads have been dropped from the new list. Among the notable absentees are defenders Alick Lungu, Timothy Silwimba of Mighty Wanderers and Andrew Jovinala of FCB Nyasa Bullets.

In midfield, Pasuwa has left out Oscar Petro and Wongani Lungu of Bullets, Charles Nkhoma of Moyale Barracks and Zebron Kalima of Silver Strikers. The forward line has also seen changes with Promise Kamwendo of Mighty Wanderers, Olson Kanjira of Kamuzu Barracks missing from the latest squad. Goalkeepers Richard Chimbamba of Bullets and Lucky Tizola of Mighty Tigers FC have also been dropped.

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Instead, Pasuwa has handed maiden call-ups to defenders Alex Kambilinya of Tigers FC, Dan Sandukira of Silver, Hermas Masinja of Ekhaya FC and Charles Mafaiti of Civo FC. Mighty Wanderers striker Wallace Adam has also received his first senior national team call-up. Despite the changes, Pasuwa has retained goalkeeper George Chikooka, defenders MacDonald Lameck and Blessings Mpokera, midfielders Yankho Singo, Blessings Singini and Chawanangwa Gumbo as well as forwards Allen Chihana and Gaddie Chirwa, who formed the backbone of the Cosafa Cup squad.

Some players that recently joined foreign clubs such as Maxwell Paipi, Chikumbutso Salima and Wisdom Mpinganjira are expected to battle for positions when Pasuwa releases the list of internationals. Other players, who were not part of the Cosafa squad but were called for last World Cup qualifier against Sao Tome as well as international friendlies against Lesotho, have been retained.

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