Malawi’s South Africa-based defender Limbikani Mzava has reportedly been ruled out of Thursday’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying match in Burkina Faso after testing positive for Covid-19.

The Nation newspaper reports that Mzava, who signed for AmaZulu recently, tested positive for Covid-19 in South Africa.

He was set to join the Flames in Ethiopia on Monday while en-route to Ouagadougou ahead of the group B qualifying match.

However, The Nation newspaper quoted Football Association of Malawi Competitions and Communications Director, Gomezgani Zakazaka, saying Mzava had tested positive.

“According to him, he is asymptomatic and this prompted him to go for a second test yesterday on Sunday and the result was supposed to be ready in the morning today. But when we tried to make a follow up, we could not get hold of him. We are hoping that he will get in touch,” Zakazaka said.

Mzava has not featured for the Flames for close to two years. He earlier claimed that he was injured but never honoured further call ups due to various reasons.

Now, he looks set to miss out on the match against the Stallions of Burkina Faso in the qualifier for group B and the return leg scheduled for Blantyre a few days later.

Malawi coach Meke Mwase named Mzava alongside 22 other players in the squad that left for Burkina Faso on Monday.

Recently, Mzava signed for AmaZulu after being left out in the cold by Highlands Park who sold their Premiership status to TTM.