Who is Monsieur Kouakou, the new face in Malawi’s squad?

Malawi national team coach Kalisto Pasuwa sprang yet another surprise, naming little known Ivory Coast-born striker Kouadio Yann Kouakou in the squad for a friendly doubleheader against Lesotho on 15 and 18 November in South Africa.

 

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The selection of the Gibraltar-based forward, who spent the better part of his professional football career in France, is part of the Football Association of Malawi (FAM’s) strategy to integrate players with Malawian roots into the Flames. The team is starved of quality, especially in the attacking third with South Africa-based Gabadinho Mhango often carrying the burden of scoring.

In the Richards Bay FC player’s absence, Malawi lost 0-1 to Sao Tome and Principe in an academic match from FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying in October.

Before he was suspended for the Sao Tome game, Gabadinho scored when Malawi beat Namibia 2-1 in October. He was again on target in the two-all home draw with Liberia. The former Orlando Pirates star owed his goal in the game against the Lone Star to Congolese-born striker Mayele Malango’s quality assist.

The America-based Mayele was born in the DRC but spent 10 years at a refugee camp in Malawi. It was on that premise that the 28-year-old made Malawi his home. He proudly wears wrist bands of both countries’ distinct colours.

Ready to represent 🇲🇼

Mayele Malango has been called up to the Malawi national team for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

“Representing Malawi is an incredible honor and a dream come true for me. This is something I have always wanted and to see it finally happening, it’s a big… pic.twitter.com/IjCcEwWg91

— Monterey Bay FC (@MontereyBayFC) August 25, 2025

Malawi FA’s broader strategy to scout for players in Diaspora

FAM also granted Nigeria-born Babatunde Adepoju, a cult-hero with Malawi serial champions FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, his wish to represent the Flames. He has featured in two games so far and is also part of the current squad.

Coach Kalisto Pasuwa knows the importance of scouting for players from the diaspora for the national team. He did the same while in charge of his home country Zimbabwe’s football team years ago.

It worked and the Warriors qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations. It is a model other teams such as Comoros, Madagascar and Cape Verde, who have made it to the World Cup finals, have adopted with success.

For Malawi, the introduction of dual citizenship has softened the path of footballers in the Diaspora to try their luck with the Malawi team.

Previously, Malawi laws demanded one to renounce the citizenship of the country of their birth in order to play for the Flames. Most footballers such as South Africa-born Phumlani Dindi, now deceased, found that risky considering that Malawi is a minnow in world football.

Just who is this Kouadio Yann Kouakou?

Now, Pasuwa has turned to the 26-year-old Kouakou, who plays for Europa Point FC in Gibraltar. According to Futboljobs.com, the striker, who holds a French passport, began his professional career in the youth ranks of SD Huesca after training in France.

He eventually moved to Red Star B reserve team in Austria followed by stints in Italy, Andorra, Poland, Sweden and Romania where he was on the books of third division side CSU Alba Iulia.

Pan-Africa Football has gathered from those close to FAM that the Treichvill-born forward’s father is from Malawi while his mother is Zimbabwean. It appears they settled in France.

Kouakou has a chance to stake his claim in the black, red and green stripes when Malawi face Lesotho at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, as Pasuwa fine- tunes for the next AFCON qualifiers. It just takes a bit of flair play and a goal to win over the Flames fans. Accueillir monsieur!

The Flames will regroup in Blantyre on Monday ahead of their departure for South Africa.

Malawi Full Squad

GOALKEEPERS

William Thole (Simba Bhora), George Chikooka (Silver Strikers), Joshua Waka (Ekhaya FC)

DEFENDERS

Nickson Nyasulu (FC Platinum), Blessings Mpokera (FCB Nyasa Bullets), Maxwell Paipi (Silver Strikers FC), Emmanuel Nyirenda (Mighty Wanderers FC), Charles Petro (Botosani FC), Mcdonald Lameck (Silver Strikers), Alick Lungu (Ekhaya FC), Jubril Okedina (Bohemiens)

MIDFIELDERS

Yankho Singo (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets FC), Blessings Singini (Mighty Wanderers FC) Lloyd Aaron (Muaither SC), Lloyd Njaliwa (Costa Do Sol), Robert Saizi (Zanaco), Uchizu Vunga (Silver Strikers).

FORWARDS

Frank Gabadinho Mhango (Richards Bay) Chifundo Mphasi (Power Dynamos) Mayele Malango (Monterey Bay FC) Patrick Mwaungulu (TP Mazembe) Chikumbutso Salima (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets) Lanjesi Nkhoma (TP Mazembe), Chawanangwa Kaonga (Zanaco FC) Andrew Joseph (Silver Strikers) Babatunde Adepoju (FCB Nyasa Big Bullets) Yann Kouakou (Europa Point FC)