While Zimbabweans remain in the dark on who will lead the senior men’s national football team at next month’s Afcon finals, one of their opponents at the tournament, have boosted their technical staff.
Malawi, who have been drawn in Group B alongside Zimbabwe, Senegal and Guinea, have given Romanian tactician, Mario Marinica, the task to lead the team in Cameroon.

Marinica had been appointed the Flames technical director on a three-year deal last month but will now be in the dugout for the Afcon showdown.

The Romanian (56) is leading the team on a temporary basis – under the title of head of technical panel – supported by current head coach Meck Mwase.

He will, however, retain his role of technical director after the Afcon finals.

“The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) wishes to advise that the Executive Committee at its meeting of 3rd December 2021 meeting took a decision to re-organise the technical set up of the Flames to ensure that it is well prepared for the forthcoming Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroun 2022.

“Upon reflection, it has become very clear that the team has technical and tactical deficiencies that have to be worked on in order to turn around its performance,” a statement from Football Association Malawi said.

“We wish to advise that this special arrangement is an interim measure that is specific to the Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroun 2022 only with the view to improving performance of the Flames at this prestigious tournament.

“It is our expectation that during this period, Meck Mwase and his counterparts will learn from the new Technical Director as he introduces a new philosophy to improve style of play,” added FAM.

The positive developments in The Flames camp are coming at a time the Warriors are yet to know the coach who will lead them in Cameroon.
There have been indications that Norman Mapeza, who completed the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign, on an interim basis, might be given the task of taking the team to the Nations Cup finals.

But, with confusion currently at Zifa, the appointment of a coach has taken longer than expected.

The suspended Zifa board announced last week they had begun interviews to try and get the right man for the job, after declaring they had resumed their duties.

However, the Sports and Recreation Commission dismissed the claims the ZIFA board had bounced back and said they remained suspended.

The Warriors are hoping to go beyond the group stage, of the Nations Cup finals, for the first time in the country’s history.