Malawi blow ahead of COSAFA Cup as nine players test positive

Malawi have been dealt a blow as they prepare for the 2021 COSAFA Cup to be staged in Nelson Mandela Bay from July 6-18 after nine players and assistant coach Bob Mpinganjira tested positive for Covid-19 as the team gathered to start their preparations in Blantyre.

All the players and Mpinganjira are asymptomatic and have gone into Isolation, where head coach Meck Mwase as he awaits a second test to see if he is clear of the virus.

The nine players who tested positive are Silver Strikers trio of goalkeeper Brighton Munthali, midfielder Chikondi Kamanga and striker Stain Dave, Bullets defender Gomezgani Chirwa, Wanderers duo of Yamikani Chester and Peter Cholopi, Karonga United midfielder Antony Mfune, Blue Eagles striker Gaddie Chirwa and MAFCO’s Paul Ndlobvu.

“All the players and officials underwent PCR tests while at home and those that tested negative are the ones that have gone into camp,” FAM Competitions and Communication Director Gomezgani Zakazaka said.

“We will be following up with all the positive cases to see who will recover in time for the trip to COSAFA. It is a big blow but we will have to work with the players that are available and no new players will be called into camp.”

Assistant coach Lovemore Fazili will be in charge of the team until Mwase returns. Twenty-five local players are in camp with Tawonga Chimodzi the only foreign based player. Mozambique-based duo of Ndaziona Chatsalira and Schumacher Kuwali are expected to join the team on Wednesday, while striker Khuda Muyaba and defender Dennis Chembezi will join the squad in South Africa.

Malawi open their Group B campaign at the COSAFA Cup against Madagascar on July 7, following by a clash with Comoros Islands three days later. They finish up with a potential pool decider against Zambia on July 13.

Only the top team in each of the three pools and the best runner-up advance to the semifinals.