CHAN Qualifying: Malawi star out of Bafana Bafana clash

Zebron Kalima: Photo Credit: Manchester United Facebook page.

Malawi senior national football team has suffered a minor setback ahead of Sunday's Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying clash against South Africa's Bafana Bafana.

The Flames' winger Zebron Kalima has been ruled out through injury. The Flames coach Kalisto Pasuwa confirmed that the Silver Strikers star Kalima picked up a knock during training in Lilongwe.

The Football Association of Malawi has also confirmed that “Kalima has been ruled out of the squad due to a quadriceps muscle injury.”

Kalima is an experienced player, and was on the substitutes’ bench when Malawi edged South Africa 1-0 through Zeliet Nkhoma’s 83rd-minute goal last weekend.

The Flames departed for Pretoria, South Africa, through Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe on Friday, May 9, 2025. Malawi need any result apart from a loss in the CHAN final qualifying round second leg match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki has beefed up his squad with Neo Maema, Ndumulelo Maphangule, Victor Letsoalo, Siyanda Msani, Simon Ramabu, and Kamogelo Sebelebele.

The overall winner between the Flames and Bafana Bafana will qualify for the CHAN finals scheduled for Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in August 2025.

Malawi’s full traveling squad:

GOALKEEPERS; Richard Chimbamba (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets), George Chikooka (Silver Strikers).

DEFENDERS; McDonald Lameck (Silver Strikers), Nixon Mwase (Silver Strikers), Maxwell Paipi (Silver Strikers), Emmanuel Nyirenda (Mighty Wanderers), Andrew Jovinala (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets) Alick Lungu (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets).

MIDFIELDERS; Yakho Singo (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets), Lloyd Aaron (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets) Chawanangwa Gumbo (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets), Wongani Lungu (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets), Charles Nkhoma (Moyale Barracks), Blessings Singini (Mighty Wanderers).

ATTACKERS; Zeliati Nkhoma (Kamuzu Barracks), Olson Kanjira (Kamuzu Barracks), Binwel Katinji (Silver Strikers), Wisdom Mpinganjira (Mighty Wanderers), Gaddie Chirwa (Mighty Wanderers), Promise Kamwendo (Mighty Wanderers), Chikumbutso Salima (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets).