Govt asks FAM not to pull out from World Cup
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has shelved its intention to withdraw the Flames from the 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers.
This follows an appeal from government that the issue is being looked into urgently.
On Wedneday, FAM president Walter Nyamilandu said they would notify Confederation of African Football on Friday on their intention to pull out from the global showpiece’s qualifiers should government fail to provide extra funding for the team by close of business on Thurday.
But in an interview on Friday , the FAM boss said they will issue a statement on the issue on Monday.
He said: “We want to give sufficient time for engagement with necessary authorities on the next course of action.”
Ministry of Youth and Sports spokesperson Ali Kalichelo said in an interview on Friday that stakeholders are meeting to come up with a solution.
He said: “Stakeholders have been meeting since Thursday to determine what can be done to bail out the situation.
“Our appeal to FAM is that they shouldn’t pull out as we are trying to sort out the issue at hand.”
As it stands, FAM faces a race against time to notify CAF on its stand as further delays would see them face further sanctions on top of an equivalent K35 million fine.
Malawi face Ivory Coast’s Elephants in back-to-back qualifiers with the first leg set for October 8 at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa which is Flames’ borrowed home and the return leg will be played four days later in Benin as home for Ivory Coast.
Nyamilandu said the association needs K200 million extra funding, having exhausted a similar amount which was its allocation for the current financial year.
On Wednesday, Nyamilandu said the intention to withdraw is not a threat nor a blackmail, “but necessary protocol that has to be respected.
Malawi are third in Group D with three points from two matches following 2-0 loss to Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions and a 1-0 victory over Mozambique’s Mambas.
The Flames are tied with second-placed Cameroon on points, but the Idomitable Lions have a better goal difference.
Ivory Coast top the group with four points while Mozambique anchor the group with a point.
