Football Association of Malawi (FAM) says Confederation of African Football (CAF) has softened on fans from watching Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers due to Covid-19.
FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka says fans are now assured of watching upcoming 2023 Afcon qualifiers as CAF is now allowing fans to watch matches depending on a particular country’s Covid-19 regulations.
During the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers), fans were not allowed to watch matches.
Said Zakazaka: “At the moment, government allows half capacity of the stadium, which means at least 20 000 fans will be allowed to watch the upcoming Afcon qualifiers at Bingu National Stadium [BNS].
Malawi will face Ethiopia’s Walyas in their opening Group D Afcon qualifier while Ethiopia will host Egypt’s Pharaohs at the same venue a few days later following Ethiopa Football Federation’s decision to choose BNS.
This was after CAF banned Ethiopia’s National stadium from hosting the qualifiers for failing to meet some of the minimum requirements.
Flames captain Limbikani Mzava said the development is big boost for the team.
“The fans always give us a big push. We are now assured of not only playing on home soil, but also in front of our fans,” he said.
At the delayed 2021 Afcon finals held in Cameroon in January, CAF only allowed fans that were fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
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