MALAWI

Year of formation: 1966 Affiliation FIFA: 1967 Affiliation CAF: 1968 National Stadium: Chichiri Stadium, Blantyre (50 000) National Colours: Red / White / Red and Black

Malawi have been runners-up in two Cosafa Castle Cup competitions, reaching the final for the first time in 2002 and the making the final again the following year. Although they were beaten in both legs of the finals by South Africa and Zimbabwe respectively, the Flames have shown they are building a side to be reckoned with in the future. Malawi did beat past winners Angola and Zambia on their way to the final in 2002 and the next year disposed of Zambia again on penalties in the semifinals. Malawi have a strong record in regional competition, having won the East and Central African Senior Challenge Cup three times – in 1978, 1979 and 1988. Now the landlocked country is part of Cosafa and has been eager participants in the Cosafa Castle Cup and Cosafa Senior Challenge, playing in all previous editions. Malawi have also qualified for the African Nations Cup finals once before – in Cote d’Ivoire in 1984 and were bronze medallists at the 1987 All-Africa Games in Nairobi.

And proof of their progress has been their progression to the final round of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where they have drawn Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Burkina Faso.

They will be hoping for a top three finish at the very least, which would win them qualification for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Angola.

RECORD