World Cup (Q): Equatorial Guinea in hot soup for no-show in Malawi

If FIFA’s regulations for the ongoing 2026 World Cup qualifiers are anything to go by, Equatorial Guinea football team faces stiff punishment for failing to honour their game against Malawi in Lilongwe on Thursday.

Chapter Five of the regulation, which Pan-Africa Football has seen, are very clear that teams that fail to show up for a sanctioned game would be penalized. The penalties include being barred from future competitions for FIFA for a considerable period.

“All participating member associations undertake to play all of their scheduled matches. Any association that withdraws between the submission of the entry form and the start of the preliminary competition will be sanctioned with a fine of at least CHF 20,000,” the regulations read in part.

“Any association that withdraws after the start of the preliminary competition will be sanctioned with a fine of at least CHF 40,000.

“Depending on the circumstances of the withdrawal, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may impose additional disciplinary measures, including the expulsion of the participating member association concerned from subsequent FIFA competitions. The FIFA Organising Committee may decide to replace the withdrawn participating member association in question with another member association.

“Any match which is not played or which is abandoned – except in cases of force majeure recognised by FIFA – may lead to the imposition of disciplinary measures against the relevant participating member association by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee in accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

“In such cases, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may also order that the match be replayed. Any participating member association that withdraws or whose behaviour is liable for a match not being played or being abandoned may be ordered by FIFA to reimburse FIFA, the host association or any other participating member association for any expenses incurred as a result of its behaviour.

“In such cases, the association concerned may also be ordered by FIFA to pay compensation for any damages incurred by FIFA, the host association or any other participating member association. The association in question will also forfeit any claim to financial remuneration from FIFA.

“If a participating member association withdraws or if a match cannot be played or is abandoned as a result of force majeure, FIFA shall decide on the matter at its sole discretion and take whatever action is deemed necessary. If a match is not played or is abandoned as a result of force majeure, the confederation and the two participating member associations shall agree on a resolution to be presented to and approved by FIFA.

Equatorial Guinea were scheduled to take on the Flames at Bingu National Stadium for the Group H game. However, the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) confirmed that Equatorial Guinea have not travelled to Lilongwe.

“The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) wishes to inform the general public that the FIFA World Cup qualifier between Malawi and Equatorial Guinea, which was scheduled for today at 18:00hrs at Bingu National Stadium, will not take place due to unforeseen travel complications affecting the visiting team,” FAM’s statement reads.

What Equatorial Guinea’s now-show means to World Cup race

The Flames, as Malawi are affectionately called, bounced back from a string of defeats in Group H to beat Namibia 2-1 and share the spoils at 2-2 with Liberia last months.

The four points collected from the two games revived a flicker of hope for the Flames’ World Cup bid via play-offs.

Malawians have some prospects of competing for the play-offs for the World Cup.

Malawi sit in third place with 10 points at par with Equatorial Guinea, one point and four points behind Liberia, Namibia respectively. Already qualified Tunisia lead the table with 22 points while Sao Tome Principe occupy the bottom seat without a point in eight games.

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