UK-based striker withdraws from Flames Afcon squad

United Kingdom-based striker Shaquille Gwengwe has excused himself from the Malawi National Football Team squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.

The New Port County striker earned his first international call up for the Flames ahead of Friday’s Afcon qualifiers against South Sudan and Angola next week.

However, the 25-year-old striker has withdrawn from the upcoming matches due to personal reasons.

Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Communication Officer Collins Nsunza said Gwengwe requested to be excused from the two matches.

“He will not join the current squad but has asked to be considered for the next callup,” he said.

His withdrawal comes just days after his club, County, announced that he would miss upcoming League Two matches against Grimsby Town and Gillingham and the Football League match against Plymouth.

The 25-year-old, who joined the club from Poole Town this year, has been in form for County this season after scoring four goals in seven matches.

His performance earned him League Two player-of-the-month award for August.

The Wales-based striker was among 19 foreign country-based players Flames coach Kalisto Pasuwa called up for the two matches.

Gwengwe was not available for his comment yesterday.

Meanwhile, 17 foreign country-based players have joined camp ahead of the two opening matches. The players are Adiel Kaduya, Babatunde Adepoju, Blessings Kanowa, Chifundo Mphasi, Richard Mbulu, William Thole, Wisdom Mpinganjira, Washali Jaziya, Patrick Mwaungulu, Llyod Njaliwa, Charles Petro, Dennis Chembezi, Blessings Kanowa, Jorden Kananga, Francisco Madinga and Gomezgani Chirwa.

USA-based striker Mayele Malango is expected to arrive in the country today.

The Flames will host South Sudan at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe City this coming Friday before playing Angola in Luanda on October 6.

Malawi will face Egypt in back-to-back fixtures next month. They will play South Sudan and Angola in the return-leg matches next year in March.

Speaking to journalists when he unveiled his provisional squad for the upcoming Afcon matches, Pasuwa said he was confident in his troops.

“I need to be very confident,” Pasuwa said.

The Flames are without a win in five consecutive matches.

Malawi last won a match in November last year after beating Lesotho 1-0 in a friendly match at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Sports analyst Parry Chinyama said the qualifiers would give Pasuwa a chance to rectify things.

“The Flames are in a tough group but I think they can qualify if they plan well,” he said.

Since he took over from Patrick Mabedi in 2024, Pasuwa has recorded six wins, eight losses and seven draws in 21 matches.