Infantino congratulates Walter

World football governing body Fifa president Gianni Infantino has congratulated Walter Nyamilandu for his re-election as president of the Football Association of Malawi (FAM).

Nyamilandu won his fifth term after beating his immediate past vice-president James Mwenda 23-13 during elections held on Saturday in Mangochi.

Part of the letter from the Fifa boss, dated December 17, reads: “I would like to extend to you my sincere congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of your recent re-election as president of the Football Association of Malawi for the 2019-23 period.

“I would be grateful if you could also convey my congratulations to the vice-presidents and all executive committee members elected and re-elected with you.

“I also seize the opportunity to thank you for all your efforts and for your contribution to the development of our sport and the promotion of its values in your country.”

Infantino, whose Malawi trip was cancelled at the eleventh hour last month due to aviation challenges, also wished Nyamilandu and his team “the best of luck for this new mandate and every success for all the challenges that lie ahead. I look forward to continuing to work with you and to witness Malawian and African football’s growth in the years to come”.

Nyamilandu, who is also a Fifa Council member, said he looks forward to working closely with Infantino to realise his grand vision of developing football and touching the world.

“I remain his great ambassador as the Fifa Council member for the Anglophone speaking countries,” he said.

However, the FAM president acknowledged that had he lost the election, it could have been a major setback considering his position in the Fifa Council.

“Of course, there was a lot at stake being the incumbent as well as a member of the Fifa Council. My contestant [Mwenda] had nothing to lose,” he said.