The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) is expected to appoint former
Kaizer Chiefs captain and defender Patrick Mabedi on a full-time basis as
the new coach of the Malawi national team. Sources close to the situation
have indicated that FAM could have given Mabedi a two-year contract
starting from November 1.
Since taking over the role as interim coach in June, Mabedi has not lost a
game in 90 minutes, drawing with Guinea and Ethiopia in the AFCON
qualifiers, and only losing in the semi-finals of the COSAFA Cup to South
Africa on penalties.
Mabedi was also an assistant coach at Chiefs and was even the interim head
coach in 2018. Speaking to PSLSA after receiving the offer from FAM,
Mabedi expressed his honour for being chosen for the role.
“This is a great honour for me. We have started a foundation for the
national team and we have to continue from here now. We did very well in
the AFCON qualifiers where we didn’t lose our last two games,” Mabedi
said.
Mabedi’s main assignment starts with the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in
November. Malawi are in Group H with Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia,
Liberia and Sao Tome and Principe. Mabedi stated that he knows it’s a
tough group but that they are ready for the battles ahead.
“We are ready to go out there and compete. We have a team of determined
players who want to represent their country and give their best. We will
go out there and fight. Nothing is impossible as we also want to go to the
World Cup finals just like any other country,” Mabedi said.
FAM has given Mabedi three main mandates in his two-year contract. The
first one is to qualify for the AFCON 2025 finals, then also finish in the
top two of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers and finally to at least achieve a
semi-final finish in the COSAFA Cup which FAM views as a developmental
tournament.
FAM President Walter Nyamilandu Manda has responded that there have been
discussions on the appointment of Mabedi but did not want to go into the
details yet.
“Yes, that’s true Mr Mabedi has been recommended as the new Flames coach
but the general secretary will issue a full statement on that,” Nyamilandu
said.
