Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and Ministry of Youth and Sports say they are confident Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe will get  CAF approval to host 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.

The local football governing body’s licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale said in an interview yesterday the facility’s pre-inspection is set for this  Sunday and Monday and Confederation of African Football (CAF) will make its decision next week.

The FAM official and BNS manager Ambirike Mwaungulu said they are confident the facility will make the grade after two failed bids which forced the Flames to play their 2022 World Cup home qualifiers in South Africa.

Said Jangale: “All the issues that were raised by CAF have been worked on and it is our hope that the facility will pass the test this time around.”

The Flames playing their home match against Ivory Coast at Orlando Stadium in South Africa

He said the crucial areas included the condition of the pitch, substitutes’ benches, furnishing referees’ rooms, tunnel, creation of medical and doping rooms complete with the necessary equipment, camera platform on the western side of the stadium and hygienic public toilets.

Said Jangale: “We are expecting a report from BNS authorities this Friday, leading to the pre-inspection which I will conduct on Sunday and Monday complete with video clips.

“We are then required to compile a report and send it to CAF alongside the video clips not later than Monday for their perusal.”

He said they expect CAF to make a decision within five days from the date of submission.

“If they [CAF] are impressed with the report, then the stadium will be approved, if not then it will not be approved. If they have doubts, then they will send an inspector at our cost,” said Jangale.

He said the pre-inspection will start with floodlights on Sunday evening while the rest will follow on Monday.

On his part, Mwaungulu said: “Everything is on course, we have worked on all the issues that were raised such as removal of advertising panels, substitutes and referees’ benches, camera platform for press briefings, public address system and furnishing referees’ rooms.

“There are just a few areas that we need to finalise such as removal of weeds here and there on the pitch. Otherwise, the facility is in excellent condition and we should get an approval this time around.”

Flames captain Limbikani Mzava yesterday said hosting the Afcon qualifiers on home soil will be a big boost.

“Hopefully, the authorities will approve Bingu National Stadium this time around because playing at home gives the home team a psychological advantage,” he said.

Treasury last year released K44 million for maintenance of the facility.

Afcon qualifiers are set to begin with two matches between  May 30 and June 14 . Two more fixtures will follow in September, with the final two rounds in March next year. The 2023 Afcon  is set to be held in June and July next year.

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