The Flames are scheduled to go into residential camp in February to start preparations for their back-to-back 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Egypt’s Pharaohs.

The first leg is scheduled for Egypt on March 20 while the reverse fixture is slated for Bingu National Stadium seven days later.

Flames coach Mario Marinica said he has requested Football Association of Malawi (FAM) for a two-week local camping before proceeding to Saudi Arabia for the second phase of the camping.

Flames’ Charles Petro (L) tussles with an Ethiopian player during an Afcon qualifier

He said: “Now that the season has just ended, players need a bit of time to rest.

“The plan is to camp for 14 days here and then 10-14 days in Saudi Arabia and from there, we will proceed to Egypt.”

FAM president Walter Nyamilandu confirmed that the team will go into camp from early February.

“Thereafter, the team will undergo a two-week camping in Saudi Arabia. That is what we are currently working on,” he said.

Ironically, all the four teams in the group have three points apiece, having won one and lost one.

The Flames beat Ethiopia’s Walyas 2-1 in their opening qualifier in June at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe before losing to Guinea’s Sylli Nationale 1-0 in Conakry.

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