Zanaco Duo Named in Malawi Squad for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

MTN Super League leaders Zanaco Football Club have contributed two key players to Malawi’s national team squad ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Head coach Kalisto Pasuwa has named midfielder Robert Saizi and striker Chawanangwa Kaonga in his final 25-man squad to face Equatorial Guinea and São Tomé and Príncipe next month.

Pasuwa has largely kept faith in the group that featured in last month’s qualifiers against Namibia and Liberia, retaining 24 of the 26 players while adding one new face. Among the notable inclusions is Ireland-based defender Jubril Okedina, who returns after missing recent fixtures and is set for his first competitive appearance since the Four-Nation Tournament in March last year.

The Flames will host Equatorial Guinea on 9th October 2025 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe before travelling to Tunis for the away clash against São Tomé and Príncipe on 13th October 2025.

The squad features 15 foreign-based players, underscoring Malawi’s reliance on its diaspora talent, alongside key stars from the domestic league.

Zanaco’s Saizi and Kaonga, both influential in the club’s strong start to the season that sees them sitting at the summit of the Zambian Super League, will be aiming to translate their form onto the international stage as Malawi seeks to end the qualifiers on a strong note.

The Flames are expected to regroup in Lilongwe on 5th October 2025 to begin preparations for the two decisive fixtures.