Flight connection hitches and a clash of fixtures have cast a huge shadow of doubt on the possibility of Malawi national football team’s practice match in Sierra Leone.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) general secretary, Suzgo Nyirenda, on Wednesday confirmed that there is no guarantee that the Flames would tune-up in Sierra Leone, while in transit to Guinea for March 25’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier.
Nyirenda said the Confederation of African Football’s (Caf) change of dates for 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers has affected Sierra Leone.
“We should be clear about the training match in Sierra Leone by the end of the weekend. Caf date change has affected most of the countries’ plans, and Malawi is not exceptional,” Nyirenda explained.
“We had a plan to play Sierra Leone on 21st March, but Caf has given a date of 24th March for the Sierra Leone / Equatorial Guinea match. This has affected Sierra
Leone’s travelling plans. We need to get the decision from Sierra Leone, otherwise we may proceed to Guinea without a testing match.”
The warm-up is critical to the performance of the Flames, whose some regulars face a match-fitness struggle ahead of the Group L qualifier in Conakry.
Nyirenda, whose body failed to court Mozambique and Mali for a friendly, is keeping fingers crossed.
“Again, flights out of Sierra Leone, is another issue as we may not connect to Guinea until 24th March, and this will not be good for Malawi’s quest to acclimatise in Guinea before the match. However, we are keeping our fingers crossed otherwise it is tricky,” said the Fam spokesperson.
Meanwhile, BBC reports that Ghanaian, Sellas Tetteh, will continue as caretaker coach of Sierra Leone, and will take charge of the game against Gabon.
The upcoming matches against Gabon will be played in Franceville on March 25, and in Freetown three days later. The tie on March 28 will be the first time the Leone Stars have played on home soil after the country was suspended from hosting games due to Ebola outbreak.
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