Malawi government stands firm

The Malawi government says rules will not be bent to allow Tamika Mkandawire to play for the national side.

Mkandawire, who plays for League One side, Leyton Orient, was born to a Malawian father and English mother.

He has waited for the past five years for a decision on whether he would be allowed to keep his British citizenship and still play for the Flames.

But Malawian authorities have said that the 25-year-old defender will not be given preferential treatment.

"Mr Mkandawire has to renounce his UK citizenship and revert to that of Malawi; the laws are very clear on this," said Home Affairs minister, Ernest Malenga.

"Giving Mkandawire preferential treatment would set a wrong precedent," he told BBC Sport.

Malenga was responding to a request from Sports Minister Khumbo Kachali who had asked for the player's case to be given special consideration.

Football Association of Malawi president Walter Nyamirandu Manda described the decision as "a very big blow" to the country's football prospects.

He said: "Tamika would have helped in sealing up the holes in our defence which is our biggest problem."

The Sports Minister and the Football Association of Malawi have been arguing that Mkandawire would help Malawi's quest to qualify for the World Cup finals in 2010.

A citizenship row also led to the early retirement from the national team of midfielder Ernest Mtawali.

Mtawali obtained South African citizenship but Malawi asked him to renounce it. He refused.