Malawi president honours Flames with State Luncheon

Malawi President Bingu Wa Mutharika on Wednesday in Lilongwe said that that there was need for the country\’s football team to remain permanent on the world sports map as one of the best teams in Africa.

Speaking during a State Luncheon hosted at his New State House in honour of the victorious Flames who beat the DR Congo’s side 2-1 last Saturday, he said following the recent victories recorded when Malawi beat the African reigning champions Egypt and the DRC at home, the national team was now on the world spotlight of football.

\"I am therefore urging you as players and coaches to work hard, harder and hardest as a team so that we remain among the best teams in Africa,” he added.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) President Walter Nyamilandu said Malawi was now one of the best teams that have improved in as far as African football is concerned.

Out of several African teams played in the joint 2010 FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Malawi was among the 20 teams which have qualified for the final phase of the tournament that would see it participate in either one or both tournaments.

\"What remains now is to explore measures on how to make the team very strong to qualify for the top five qualifiers for South Africa 2010 or to be among the 15 teams to qualify for Angola 2010,\" he said. “And both goals are within reach of the Flames.”

Underdogs Malawi qualified for the final phase of the joint qualifiers after defeating DRC 2-1 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre last Saturday.