Flames’ Afcon gain

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) will receive $250 000 (about K206.2 million) as qualification fee for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

According to a communique from Confederation of African Football (CAF) to all member associations, which we have seen, all the 24 countries that qualified for the continental showpiece will receive the fee.

FAM president Walter Nyamilandu confirmed having received communication from the continent’s football governing body.

He said: “We were informed about the qualification fee and what remained was the actual amount which we have since been communicated to.

“It was agreed that we’ll share with the team 50:50 [translating to $125 000 [about K103 million] going to the team and the same amount to FAM.

“However, the funds have not yet been disbursed because CAF says they have not yet received money from sponsors.”

The Flames were promised K1 million each for a win and a draw in the event that they qualified for the knockout stages and, therefore, a 2-1 win over Zimbabwe’s Warriors and 0-0 draw against Senegal’s Lions of Teranga earned them K2 million each.

President Lazarus Chakwera pledged K1 million to each player for qualifying for the round of 16.

The players were also getting $100 (about K82 500) external allowance each and for the 36 days they spent in Saudi Arabia for camping and in Cameroon, they got $36 000, translating to K2.7 million each.

And from their K103.1 million share from CAF’s qualification fee, they could get about K2.8 million each.

This means on average, the players stand to pocket between K5 million and K8.5 million each.