Malawi FA broke ahead of crunch World Cup qualifier against Nigeria
The Flames may be unable toraise the needed funds for their trip to Calabar in time to face the Super Eagles on September 7 having used up the bulk of their annual budget
By Lolade Adewuyi
Aug 28, 2013 1:32:00 PM
Malawi players Robert N’gambi & Robin Ngalande Malawimight be unable to prosecute their final Group F 2014 World Cup qualifier against Nigeriaon September 7 due to shortfall in funding.
The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) told media on Thursday that the Flames require about $121, 212 to travel to Nigeria.
FAM had spent most of its annual allocation onparticipating in the regional Cosafa Cup held in Zambia as well as World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia.
“We don’t have the required amount of money. Government has indicated the funds that were used during World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia were part of the 2013/14 national budget,” FAM general secretary Suzyo Nyirenda was quoted by Nyasatimes.com.
“We were not aware of this arrangement, we have been taken unaware because, to us, expenses that were incurred prior and after Kenya and Namibia games were settled by funds within the 2012/13 financial year which ended on June 31, 2013.”
This unavailability of funds means the Flames will be unable to camp for four days in Botswana where they had been scheduled to play a friendly match against the Botswana national team.
If they are unable to travel, they will forfeit thethree points on offer to Nigeria and may also be punished by Fifa. However, officials remain optimistic that the government will come to the team’s rescue.