Meet only Malawi coach going to AFCON

Malawi are irregular Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) participants. Little wonder, the men in black, red and green will not be among the participants of the forthcoming tournament in Morocco.

However, one man will atone for the absence Kalisto Pasuwa-led Malawi.

Chikondi Mandalasi will be the sole Malawian coach gracing the 2025 AFCON. He will be on duty working as Zimbabwe’s strength and conditioning coach. It is all thanks to coach Mario Marinica who hired the Malawian to be part of the Zimbabwe coaching panel.

The dou also worked together when the Romania-born mentor was in charge of Malawi at the 2021 AFCON held in Cameroonian a year later.

How Malawian Mandalasi found himself at AFCON

Mandalasi spoke to Pan-Africa Football on what it means to be the only Malawian coaching staff at AFCON.

“It’s an honour. It does not happen to many even once and I feel blessed to experience it twice in five years,” he said.

Mandalasi also gave an update on the fitness levels of Zimbabwe players ahead of the tournament.

“So far the mood is good, we are doing our best to condition the guys because they are reporting in different fitness levels, and some with minor injuries,” the Malawian said.

“We are doing our best to improve their fitness levels towards the set benchmark and complete the return to play protocols for the ones with minor injuries.”

Zimbabwe will compete at AFCON against Egypt, South Africa and Angola.

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