Malawi national football team
Flames · COSAFA · Elo 1383 (38th in Africa)
About the Malawi national team
The Malawi national football team (Flames) represents Malawi in men's international football and competes in CAF's Southern African (COSAFA) region.
Across their history, Malawi have played 646 recorded internationals since 1957: 220 wins (34.1%), 182 draws and 244 defeats, with 756 goals scored and 836 conceded.
Malawi have played at 3 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments without winning the title.
Malawi have not yet qualified for a FIFA World Cup finals tournament.
Our Elo rating puts Malawi on 1383 points: 38th in Africa and 155th in the world. Their highest rating (1637) came in 1985.
Chiukepo Msowoya is the leading scorer in our match records with 6 goals for Malawi.
Next matches
All fixtures →
Recent results
All results →DWLDWLLDWL
| Date | Opponent | Score | Competition | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Oct 2026 | L |  Angola |
1–3 | AFCON Qualification | A · Luanda |
| 25 Sep 2026 | W |  South Sudan |
2–1 | AFCON Qualification | H · Lilongwe |
| 9 Jun 2026 | D |  Ethiopia |
1–1 | International Friendly | A · Dire Dawa |
| 6 Jun 2026 | L | Ethiopia |
0–1 | International Friendly | A · Dire Dawa |
| 31 Mar 2026 | L |  Botswana |
0–1 | Mukuru 4 Nations | A · Francistown |
| 18 Nov 2025 | W |  Lesotho |
1–0 | International Friendly | N · Bloemfontein |
| 15 Nov 2025 | D | Lesotho |
0–0 | International Friendly | N · Bloemfontein |
| 13 Oct 2025 | L |  São Tomé and Príncipe |
0–1 | World Cup Qualification | N · Sousse |
| 9 Oct 2025 | W |  Equatorial Guinea |
3–0 | World Cup Qualification | H · Lilongwe |
| 8 Sep 2025 | D |  Liberia |
2–2 | World Cup Qualification | H · Lilongwe |
| 5 Sep 2025 | W |  Namibia |
2–1 | World Cup Qualification | N · Francistown |
| 24 Mar 2025 | L |  Tunisia |
0–2 | World Cup Qualification | A · Radès |
Key facts
- At home
- 124W 84D 80L (43% wins)
- Away
- 36W 58D 122L (17% wins)
- Neutral venues
- 60W 40D 42L (42% wins)
- Goals per match
- 1.17 scored, 1.29 conceded
- Clean sheets
- 203 (31%)
- Failed to score
- 221 matches (34%)
- Most common score
- 1–1 (80 times)
- vs Asia
- 0W 1D 1L
- Best decade
- 1970s (49% wins)
- First recorded match
- Malawi 0–5 Zambia (1957)
Where Malawian players were born
All birthplaces →Each dot is a birthplace; bigger dots mean more players. Players born outside Africa are on the born abroad page.
Active Malawian internationals
Where they play →| Player | Position | Club | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jabulani Linje | Midfielder |  YSCC Yokohama | – | – |
| Tabitha Chawinga | Forward |  Jiangsu L.F.C. | – | – |
| Temwa Chawinga | Forward | Wuhan Jianghan University F.C. | – | – |
| Charles Petro | Defensive midfielder |  FC Botoșani | 30 | 0 |
Players with an open club spell and a senior cap on record; not an official squad list.
Top scorers
Full list →- Chiukepo Msowoya2008–2009
- Gabadinho Mhango2013–2025
- Essau Kanyenda2003–2008
- Russel Mwafulirwa2004–2010
- Noel Mkandawire2005–2008
- Peterkins Kayira1988–1989
- Robert Ng'ambi2008–2013
- Harry Waya1984–1984
- Frank Sinalo1984–1984
- Daniel Chitsulo2000–2001
Record by competition
| Competition | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFCON Qualification | 109 | 28 | 28 | 53 | 108 | 160 | 1975–2026 | |
| CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup | 85 | 43 | 21 | 21 | 120 | 78 | 1975–2015 | |
| World Cup Qualification | 76 | 20 | 18 | 38 | 70 | 105 | 1976–2025 | |
| COSAFA Cup | 57 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 57 | 66 | 1997–2023 | |
| Africa Cup of Nations | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 1984–2022 | |
| All-African Games | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 17 | 1978–1987 | |
| COSAFA Cup Qualification | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 1997–2008 |
Notable Malawian players
All players →
Tabitha ChawingaMalawi · Jiangsu L.F.C.
D
Davi BandaMalawi · b. 1983
K
Kinnah PhiriMalawi · b. 1954
E
Elvis KafotekaMalawi · b. 1978
Temwa ChawingaMalawi · Wuhan Jianghan University F.C.
Essau KanyendaMalawi · b. 1982
C
Chiukepo MsowoyaMalawi · b. 1988
J
Joseph KamwendoMalawi · b. 1986
J
John BandaMalawi · b. 1993
G
Gabadini MhangoMalawi · b. 1992
Frequently asked questions
What is the nickname of the Malawi national team?
Malawi are nicknamed the Flames.
How many times have Malawi won AFCON?
Malawi have won the Africa Cup of Nations 0 times.
Have Malawi played at the World Cup?
No, Malawi have not qualified for a World Cup finals tournament yet.
Who is the top scorer for Malawi?
In our match database, Chiukepo Msowoya leads with 6 goals. Goal data is most complete for tournament matches.
What is the biggest win in Malawi history?
Malawi 8–1 Botswana on 13 July 1968 (International Friendly).