Gabadinho Mhango injury: Malawi coach concerned

Malawi national team coach Kalisto Pasuwa has bemoaned the absence of captain Gabadinho Mhango from the four-nation invitational tournament in Botswana later in March. The South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) star suffered a long-term injury.

Therefore, the PSL winner will miss the Flames’ assignments against Botswana’s Zebras, the Warriors of Zimbabwe and Zambia’s Chipolopolo during the warm-up for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

Pasuwa has handed maiden senior national team call-ups to defenders Dan Sandukira, Hermas Masinja and Charles Mafaiti, as well as forward Wallace Adam.

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— FA Malawi (@FaMalawi) March 5, 2026

The preparatory tournament is scheduled to run from 23 to 31 March 2026 in Francistown.

Pasuwa said he wanted to have the Richards Bay FC striker available for the preparatory tournament for the AFCON qualifying matches.

Speaking to the Football Association of Malawi media, the Zimbabwean confirmed that Mhango is nursing an injury he picked while playing for Richards Bay FC.

Why Mhango is critical to Flames’ rebuilding

The former FCB Nyasa Big Bullets mentor said Mhango is an integral part of the Flames’ squad rebuilding exercise to ensure smooth transition from the old to the new generation of stars.

“So far, the rebuilding process is going well, although we have had some setbacks such as our captain Gabadinho Mhango being injured again. We are trying to discover new players and give opportunities to those who may not have been playing regularly so that we broaden our squad,” the coach said.

Earlier, Richards Bay co-coach Ronnie Gabriel confirmed that Mhango suffered a long-term injury in February 2026.

“Gabadinho is still on the injury table, looks like a long-term injury. We just will be able to confirm going forward how many months,” Gabriel as quoted as saying by DailySports.

The former Orlando Pirates star suffered the injury after scoring four goals in 14 appearances in the PSL which is otherwise known as the Betway Premiership.

Who else has withdrawn from Malawi squad?

On another note, Pasuwa confirmed the withdrawal of the centre-back Blessings Mpokera from the tournament due to a knee injury his club Bullets have described as minor.

“Since we started camping, it is only Blessings Mpokera who is not okay, so we have sent him back for recovery,” he said.