Malawi interim coach Mario Marinica has named his final 23-member squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to take place in Cameroon from next month.
The Romanian, who is in charge of the Flames at AFCON following the demotion of Meck Mwase, has dropped from the final squad Al-Hilal new signing Gerald Phiri Junior and second-choice goalkeeper Brighton Munthali.
Marinica has put Phiri and Munthali who played a key role in the qualifying face with the winger among the Flames leading scorers, on stand-by list.
Marinica told Football Association of Malawi (FAM) website the players he had selected were grasping the playing philosophy he wants executed at AFCON.
“First and foremost, I would like as much as possible to implement the philosophy of playing fast and very fast, thinking fast, acting fast and moving fast, being well prepared and organised. I hope that will be carried through. This will be well organised when we have our friendly matches and also when we have official matches in AFCON,” he is quoted saying.
“The players that have been selected are very close to what I am looking for. They were others that would have suited better but due to COVID they are not here and we could not test them. But we have picked players that are willing to learn and are talented. They have speed, skill, height and hardworking spirit and determination to do well. You will see an attacking team and a well organised defence.”
Marinica has also named three uncapped players—Charles Thom, Lawrence Chaziya and Zebron Kalima—in the squad despite that they have never had a taste of international football going into AFCON.
He justified his decision to selected the uncapped players for a tournament of such magnitude.
“Charles Thom impressed me in the Airtel Top 8 final but also in other three matches before. He is a very good shot stopper. Zebron is very young talented player. Fantastic skills. And so far in training, he is the best crosser of the ball. He is small and that is not a problem despite that we are emphasizing on height. He has what it takes to play at top level. Lawrence is the tallest player in the squad. If you look at statistics, he is also the player with the fastest approach and the best header of the ball. We looked at merit and based on that these three deserve to be on the plane to Cameroun,” Marinica told FAM website.
About 19 players in the final 23 are in Saudi Arabia where the team is having a 10-day pre-AFCON camp while goalkeeper Charles Thom, defender Gomezgani Chirwa and midfielder Chimwemwe Idana ,who are in Malawi , will fly straight to Cameroun.
Tanzania-based winger Peter Banda will also join the team in Cameroon as he has club engagements on New Year’s Day.
The Flames are in group B alongside Guinea, Senegal and Zimbabwe and will play their first match against Guinea on Monday January 10, 2022.
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Ernest Kakhobwe (Nyasa Big Bullets), William Thole (Be Forward Wanderers), Charles Thom (Silver Strikers)
Defenders: Limbikani Mzava (Amazulu), Dennis Chembezi (Polokwane City), Gomezgani Chirwa (Nyasa Big Bullets), Lawrence Chaziya (Civo Sporting), Mark Fodya (Silver Strikers), Stanley Sanudi, Peter Cholopi (Be Forward Wanderers)
Midfielders: John Banda (UD Songo), Charles Petro (Sheriff Tiraspol), Chimwemwe Idana (Nyasa Big Bullets), Chikoti Chirwa (Red Lions), Micium Mhone (Blue Eagles)
Wingers: Robin Ngalande (St George), Yamikani Chester (Be Forward Wanderers), Fransisco Madinga (FC Dilla Gori), Peter Banda (Simba Sporting Club), Zebron Kalima (Silver Strikers)
Strikers:Richard Mbulu (Baroka FC), Khuda Muyaba (Polokwane City) Gabadinho Mhango (Orlando Pirates)
Players on Standby
Stain Dave, Paul Ndlobvu, Gerald Phiri Jnr, Brighton Munthali and Dan Chimbalanga