Malawi FA chases own Mayele to ignite misfiring Flames

It seems any team that wants to solve its scoring problems needs a Mayele of some sort. Afterall, the original Fiston Mayele has been a man in demand from his time at Young Africans and now, Pyramids FC.

The Congolese forward single handedly destroyed fancied Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2025 CAF Champions League final to confirm his place among the continent’s deadliest snipers.

Little wonder, the Egypt-based Mayele has reportedly been on the radar of teams such as Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns in South Africa and others beyond.

Not wishing to be left behind, the Malawi senior national football team authorities, too, have found their version to solve the Flames’ chronic impotence upfront—Malango Mayele.

The 28-year-old is little known in African football, but like his more popular counterpart, he was also born in Kinshasa before relocating to Malawi as a refugee at Dzaleka Refugees camp some 80 kilometres from the capital, Lilongwe.

The 10 years that the Congolese player spent at the camp ignited a stronger connection with Malawi. After all, he has never represented the DR Congo at any level.

Now, the quest for glory has seen the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) reviving its chase for the striker who plays for Monterey Bay FC in the second tier of American soccer.

In fact, FAM president Fleetwood Haiya took advantage of his recent trip to America for the FIFA Club World Cup to meet the United States League Championship leading scorer. The duo posted their photos on Facebook.

Now, The Daily Times newspaper reports that FAM has written to Bay FC seeking the release of the player in time so that his passport can be processed ready for September assignments.

“We request that the player be released on 20th August 2025 to be able to process his passport, prior to joining the team in camp which will commence on 24th August. It is expected that the player will return to his club on 11th September 2025,” the letter reads.

The Bay FC player has repeatedly expressed willingness to play for Malawi.

The Flames, who exited the recent 2025 COSAFA Cup without scoring—not even offside—in three group stage games, are readying for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Namibia on September 4 and Liberia a week later.

The Flames’ biggest problem is that they hardly score if temperamental Gabadinho Mhango does not. Maybe a concoction called Mayele is the short-term cure the Flames need.