failing to do so on Thursday due to visas hiccup.

However, Blessings Mpokela, Alick Lungu, assistant coach Franco Ndawa and goalkeeper trainer Victor Mphande are not with the squad because their visas are not yet out.

Zakazaka said though the delay has affected the team’s programme, the international friendly against Bangladesh is confirmed.

He said: “They were supposed to play against a Saudi Arabian club today; on Wednesday against Bangladesh then Saturday against a Libyan club.

“But following the delay, the programme has to be rescheduled. However, the match against Bangladesh on Wednesday which is Fifa date is confirmed.”

Flames players going through the paces in preparation for
2023 Afcon qualifiers against Egypt

The 25-member squad was supposed to camp in Saudi Arabia for 14 days in preparation for the back-to-back 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Egypt on March 24 and 28.

But following the delay, the camp will be for about seven days since the team is expected to leave for Egypt on March 20.

The squad has 22 TNM Super League players and three foreign-based players Francisco Madinga [Galaxy FC, Botswana] , John CJ Banda (UD Songo, Mozambique] and Kieran Ngwenya [Aberdeen, Scotland].

Madinga and John Banda will join the team on Monday while Ngwenya will fly direct to Saudi Arabia.”

Flames coach Mario Marinica said the international friendly match is crucial as he continues to keep the players in shape after a long break.

He said: “Like Lesotho game, this is an important part of preparation to get players to compensate for their lack of match fitness resulting from clubs’ inactivity as well as to gel the team and work on our game plan.”

Malawi drew 1-1 against Lesotho in an international friendly last month.

Coached by Spanish Javier Fernández Cabrera, Bangladesh is ranked 192 while the Flames are ranked 124.

The friendly against Malawi will be Bangladesh’s first match this year.

Last year the Bengal Tigers did not win any match.

They lost to Maldives 2-0, Cambodia 1-0, Nepal 3-1, Bahrain 2-0,Turkmenistan 1-0, Malaysia 4-1 and drew 0-0 against Mongolia and Indonesia.

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